Holiday in Cornwall
11th June to 23rd June 2001
with
Frank, Daphne, Suzie & Michael
Still needs the photographs scanning in.
We were supposed to leave for Buckingham on Friday lunch time but Sue wasn’t well so Richard had to come up for mum on Friday and took her away on the Saturday.
Sue had bronchitis and her anti-biotics hadn’t worked so we got some new ones on Friday. She felt she had to see the doctor before we left, as did Daphne, so we went on Monday morning and he said she was sufficiently better for us to set off.
Monday 11th June 2001
We eventually got away at approximately 1420 hours. We had a remarkably clear run arriving at Penvean at approximately 2020 hours having stopped only once for relief and again just to change back to me driving. I set out and drove to Michaelwood. Sue then drove to Sedgemoor and I drove the rest of the way. She tried but tired very quickly, surprisingly I managed OK.
Tuesday 12th June 2001.
It was a lovely day and evening, some cloud but not all that warm. Sue was tried so she was allowed to stay at home.
After lunch Frank drove Daphne and I to Devoran and we walked along the shore and paths to Point, Frank pointing out what he could remember of the history of the inlet told to them by Peter, their local history teacher. See end of story for a little about Devoran. Below is a picture taken a few days later.
In the evening Frank and Daphne took us both out for meal, a treat, to the Golden Lion at Stithians for our thirtieth wedding anniversary, thirty years to the day when we got married in the registry office in Preston. The landlady was a special golden treat as she was dressed in a short ‘golden’ diaphanous dress, which didn’t leave much to the imagination, I think the dress was pink really. We all enjoyed our meal despite the distraction. Also Damian’s 40th Birthday.
Wednesday 13th June 2001
Rain was forecast but it held off and again we had a lovely generally sunny day and evening.
We all went to Trelissick for a snack lunch in the Courtyard. Afterwards we walked round the gardens. Picture opposite is the sky at the time. We stopped and rested on the seat in the corner near to some ladies who were painting.
Frank thought that the ladies, photo opposite, were painting by numbers! Whilst we were sat down a female robin flitted around and about us, at one point perching on Michael’s toe. You can see her below.
Before leaving for home, Penvean, we spent some time in the gallery and bought a couple of cards and a book of sketches, Sue Lewington. In the book was a painting of the boat we had seen at Devoran, in the previous photo!
In the evening Sue stayed at home while we all joined the ‘Footpath Club’ to walk round Argol reservoir.
Thursday 14th June 2001
It was a miserable morning, literally pouring down so we set off to Roskilly’s ice cream farm on the Lizard for lunch. Again we enjoyed our meal out and it started to clear up in the afternoon. On the way back we drove through Gweek after having a Cornish Cream Tea, served by an interesting French lady, at Trelowarren.
At Trelowaren we looked round the Cornwall Art Gallery and scrutinised the ‘Retrospective, exhibition of Maggie Meadows work. Maggie went to school with Judith and so was known to Frank and Daphne. We weren’t very impressed by what we saw!
Friday 15th June 2001
A glorious sunny morning so we left for lunch at Marizion. We enjoyed our meal at the Clipper Café on the main street. The next port of call on Frank’s list was the Museum at Porth Curno, some miles away but we arrived in good time but sadly as the weather was breaking up and the rain starting to come down. We spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the museum, exhibition, Pigeon Efforts in the Second World War, and shop before setting of home again.
The evening was planned to be an archaeological walk round the fortifications at Pendennis Castle but Peter, the lecturer, had worn himself out and got wet through into the bargain at Eden so he cancelled the walk and talk. We looked round the marinas for the Glasson boat, Korimako, and watched the boats from the Pendennis Head car park before returning home to Daphne, who had remained at home.
Saturday 16th June 2001
Today was the Footpath club’s walk from Mawnan Smith to Rosemullion Point and back, starting at 1400 hours. The weather was again kind to us, sunny with white clouds around. We started the walk at Carwinnion and wandered down to the beach, Porth Saxon on the map but known by a different name to the locals, on the Helford River. After a rest and paddle, Michael and Jean paddled, the rest watched. We set off eastwards along the coastal path. A few of us took the short cut back to the cars at the point on the path just below the church. After another rest on Rosemullion Head we continued round and back to Carwinnion where Frank and Sue were waiting for us, watching the cricket match in the mean time. Eight of us went into Carwinnion garden for a cream tea.
In the evening we left Daphne at home again and went down to the Falmouth marinas looking for Karimako again.
We looked round the town marina and the new marina across from Custom House Quay but still no sign of them. Actually we found out later that they didn’t get anywhere near the south west of England, somewhere round Holyhead, the Isle of Man and the north of Ireland I think.
We parked near Gyllyngvase beach, between Pendennis Head and Gyllyngvase. Frank showed us an old way down to the beach under the promenade. Then we went across the road to the pavilion, another surprise. In all the years we never knew of it’s existence. There was a lovely old bandstand and a band was due to ply tomorrow but I couldn’t get the others interested
Sunday 17th June 2001
Another lovely morning and I got up and went for a walk before breakfast. I set off towards Truro but it looked dark in that direction so I turned down the lane to the old convent and arriving at the by-pass I broke into a run! I ran to the bottom of the hill and continued walking along the by-pass till fifteen minutes had elapsed. By this time I was over the bridge at the College reservoir. I ran back to just short of the round-a-bout and walked back up the hill.
Frank took us to Mylor to see his brother Tom and Eunice to find out where Bob’s new boat was. Daphne stayed at home to prepare the Sunday lunch. Tom and Eunice have loads of bird feeders, boxes etc. and Sue enjoyed watching all the different birds feeding. They also get squirrels, which Tom shoots with his air rifle. They showed us some pictures of the boat and revealed that it was Twister.
It was a bit spooky because from the outside it looked like Denys’s boat Cachoucha. It was green, which is unusual for a boat as it’s considered unlucky. The inside appeared too red, from what I remembered Denys’s was a darkish walnut but the layout was very similar, particularly the forepeak. After chatting with them for a while they explained to Frank where the boat was and we set off to find it. It was in good condition and quite beautiful to look at. Wouldn’t it be great if it was Denys’s boat, Helen would be pleased. The sail number was 1064. The photographs that I checked when we got home didn’t have a sail number so it wasn’t Denys’s boat after all. The boatyard was just off the ‘six lanes’ and was very interesting, lots of tradition boats about.
After a meal at home we went to the Mabe car boot sale in the afternoon, sadly arriving too late as all the stalls were packing up. There was a cold westerly wind blowing. We bought some cups and saucers and a few bits and pieces. Frank was looking for a hedge lopper, this was why we went, we thought we would look for Linden cups but were unsuccessful but we got four to match Auntie Babe’s gift to mum.
After the car boot we went on to Gweek for a cream tea at the ceramic shop on the west side of the creek.
Monday 18th June 2001
I got up for the usual, early in the morning just before dawn, and a crescent moon was shining with a very bright star just above it. I tried to take a picture but the exposure was so long my camera shake showed up. Lying in bed later I took a picture of the ceiling of our bedroom, normally Daphne & Frank’s room.
It was getting warmer and again the sun was shining. Flushed with success I set out on another morning walk, this time towards Helston. I turned back just before the petrol station and came over Antron Hill, down into Mabe and back along Treliever Road. I ran down the hill but not before being taken short along the lane at the top!
We went to Trebah for lunch and wandered down to the beach afterwards. Whilst we were on the beach we watched a strange craft being towed up the Helford River, looked like a small oil well drilling platform? Where was it going, we never found out, nor did we get down to the Ferryboat Inn either this time.
Tuesday 19th June 2001
My calves were killing me this morning; they felt just like they did after I’d run a marathon, so no walk this morning. I thought we’d get plenty of exercise walking round Eden.
Tuesday was always going to be Eden day. We’d been invited to go on the coach with the (can’t remember who) but we declined because Frank’d planned that we would go to Lerryn for lunch and only arrive at Eden at 1430 hours after the rush had died down.
Lerryn is a beautiful little village on the river Fowey, perhaps at the limit of the tidal reach. The tide was out when we arrived but we were able to watch it pour in after lunch. We had an excellent lunch at the Ship Inn outside in the garden. Again delightful waitresses, one restrained the other voluptuously free.
Now on to Eden. Would we have to queue? There have been reports that it is very busy but Frank had selected the time because he’d been told that the crowds thin out around 1430 hours.
We arrived at Eden and there were cars parked right at the entrance in the overspill car park. However we motored slowly on and found plenty of space near the entrance.
Frank's timing was spot on and we walked straight into the ticket office.
Frank couldn’t resist having a little moan about the low cost of the passport compared to the Friends contribution. He was put firmly in his place by the young lady he challenged. “We expect friends to want to be supportive of the project!” or something similar.
The engineering of the place is very impressive and the work and skill that must have gone into persuading the various organisations to part with the money. The scale of the entire project is breath taking. The flags, which I didn’t like at first, created the atmosphere of some exciting medieval contest and filled one with awe and anticipation.
The plants haven’t matured yet and the terraces are still bare in many places but it was a good afternoon. The only ‘Footpath’ member we bumped into was Eileen.
Eden is going to be a fantastic place when it is finished and matures. The plants are many and varied but it looked like they needed to improve the humidifying system because it was quite dry in places in the ‘tropical jungle’. I can’t wait to see the terraces when they are developed and matured.
On the way home we went to look at Devoran with the tide in and spent an hour or so soaking up the ambience and watching the birds. We’d missed high water and could have done to have been there a couple of hours earlier.
Wednesday 20th June 2001
Another lovely day and we had a lazy start, no walking and running, calves and legs still stiff.
Today we decided not to go far as we’d had a longish journey yesterday so we opted to go to Glendurgan garden for lunch.
We walked down to the beach afterwards and soaked up the sun on the rocks to the west. We watched the boats and a particularly interesting one, interesting because of the helmsman or more correctly helmswoman. It was a yellow Mirror dinghy, which was sailing up to the beach from upstream. The woman, petite and lithe, tanned and healthy looking, appeared to dump dad and the two small children on the beach and sail off. She did this expertly and seemed to be a competent sailor. However she came back and dad had a turn in the boat, not quite up to mum’s standard.
When we got back there was a message on the phone from Judith saying she was getting married!
After tea we left Daphne to talk to Judith and Frank took us to the Pandora Inn at Restronguet, named after the ship which went to search for the survivors of the Bounty.
We had a drink, sat on the pontoons to finish it and then walked up the side of the creek to see if we could show Sue where we’d walked on the other side of the creek on the first Tuesday.
We saw a few interesting boats moored alongside as we walked.
Thursday 21st June 2001
The weather is still getting better and warmer. Went for a walk again. Along Treliever Road, up Antron Hill then I ran down to the old school and back to the roundabouts.
I think we’d decided to go to St. Mawes last night. We drove into Falmouth and parked on the park nearest Customhouse Quay and then found that the ferries no longer went from there and we had to walk all the way down to the Prince of Wales Pier. We enjoyed the sail across and enjoyed watching all the boats round and about.
We couldn’t decide where to have lunch but eventually ended up having snacks from the Deli near the arcade near the car park. Who should come into the deli while we were being served but Richard and Cynthia. They were with their next door neighbours who were with the Dinghy Cruising Club that Frank and Margaret were in. I asked them to tell them that they’d seen me. Richard’s neighbour had a Drascombe Lugger, Jay.
After our lunch of pasties and sandwiches we set off towards the castle. Walking slowly, taking in the ambience of the place, we decided if we were going to go to the flower arrangers cream tea in Falmouth we didn’t really have time to go round the castle so we went down on to the beach and rocks. Daphne and Sue wandered among the rock pools looking for suitable stones and shells to play with the grandchildren when it rained
Frank and I watched the boats out in Falmouth bay through the binoculars. They appeared to be racing and there were enough of them to suggest it was a championship event of some sort. When they were all coming towards us, way in the distance, with their spinnakers flying it was quite a spectacle, through the binoculars. We later found out, via the West Briton, that they were Dragons. They were taking part in a three-day event, The Edinburgh Cup, two races each day. This was the second day. The previous weekend they had been racing off Falmouth in the Southern Area Championships.
We didn’t make the cream tea party, as we couldn’t drag ourselves away from the beach.
After returning to Falmouth Frank’s eye was bad that we went to my favourite hospital on the way home for him to have it checked out.
Friday 22nd June 2001
Today we went into Truro. Daphne arranged to have her sandals repaired and priced some expensive second hand jewellery. We had lunch at a delightful restaurant, Fodder’s, up some steps from the indoor market. Another good meal.
After we’d done some shopping, I got Sue’s card, some socks and some single coloured underpants, Frank took us to Malpas for a cream tea but the pub was closed so we had to wait till we got home.
In the evening we went on the next ‘college’ archaeological/historic walk, this time it was Swanpool and Pennance Point. A few more people turned up and Peter, photo overleaf gave us an interesting evening revealing the history of the area, mines etc. also the recent local history about a retired fish and chip merchant from Oxfordshire who had destroyed some of the archaeological sites and colonised part of the coast line and re-routed the coast path round his new mansion built without planning permission.
Saturday 23rd June 2001
Frank’s busy below cutting the grass, which had been neglected during our stay. It also helped to dispel thoughts that the holiday was nearly over
Richard rang last night and asked if we’d get some rock for mum. The local shop drew a blank so we decided to go into Truro on the way to Buckingham. Frank and Daphne had to go into Truro to retrieve Daphne’s credit cards, left at the Abbey National on Friday, so they guided us in to the best car park and helped us find some rock, in Woolworth’s before saying our goodbyes.
Above is the last photo that we’ll be able to take of the back of the bungalow looking like this. During the holiday Frank and Daphne revealed plans to change the outlook forever. A room and balcony are to be built above the central bedroom. We had some interesting discussions with them and the builder as to how it should turn out.
We left Truro around 1600 hours, having left Penvean at about 1500 hours. We’d decided to go late afternoon to avoid the ‘changeover’ traffic. We had a good run, no hold ups and only two stops on the roadside to change drivers and empty the bottle on the second one. We’d prepared sandwiches. We arrived at Buckingham at 2000 hours.
Sunday 24th June 2001
Sue’s 65th birthday.
We’d had a bad night and I’d had a nightmare, dreaming that I was under threat of injury being sought out by vengeful criminals?
I went for a walk, through the village and along the road to Lekhempstad. It was another lovely morning and quiet and peaceful except for the odd car or so.
Richard cut the grass and put the sun chairs out. I watched the Grand Prix, apart from the bit during lunch. We all sat out in sun or shade in the afternoon.
Sunday evening we went to visit Sue’s Uncle Jim and auntie Kath. Sue, having had a bad report from Babs, was afraid she might not see him again. Apparently on Friday they’d been across to see mum and Uncle Jim had cavorted around like a two-year old playing with Robert, Caroline’s son. He didn’t seem so bad but they were pleased to see Sue, their favourite niece. We had a bit of excitement on the way there as the road was blocked outside Milton Keynes and we had to divert, without the aid of signs, through Leyton Buzzard. It was still blocked on the way back but the policeman this time gave us better instructions and the detour wasn’t as long.
Monday 25th June 2001
The dreaded journey home. The carer, Shoeless Rose, was only booked for 1030 hours, so we got ready and had a light lunch before we left at 1300 hours. Another close and hot day which proved most uncomfortable for Sue and mum. Again we had a good journey arriving home at 1610 hours having stopped only once for relief at Knutsford.
Trudie had been and plugged things in, Steven had mowed the lawns the day before and later we had a welcome home by Trudie and Jaja. Jaja was concerned that we would be going to the seaside again but grandma assured him that we were home for a long time now.
Back into the routine but at least we had Alison and Kathryn to look forward to tomorrow.
Michael Swarbrick, June 2001
This is a little about Devoran from a little book I have on “The Story of Cornwall’s Ports and Harbours”
Cornish rivers, though comparatively short, nevertheless provided a ready-made means of access for shipping to several of the inland mining districts. As a result, some small landing places in these riverways developed into quite sizeable little ports during the heyday of Cornish mining in the first half of the nineteenth century. Several were situated on creeks of the River Fal, one of the most interesting being Devoran. In the 1820's, much of the mining trade which had formerly gone to Penryn lower down the estuary was transferred here for, in 1826, a mineral railway was constructed to Redruth and Chacewater (in those days spelt Chasewater).
A whole series of quays was constructed along the creek bank for about a mile below the Falmouth -Truro road, with warehouses, docks, engine sheds, and other harbour facilities. Devoran prospered with the mines it served. On June 5th 1830, an advertisement in the Royal Cornwall Gazette for a "New Town & Floating Harbour", described "Devoran" (sic) as "this favoured site for quays, buildings and
manufactories.
On the Falmouth River, four miles from Truro, on the Falmouth Turnpike Road, and the Redruth Rail-Road; with a Maritime Commerce (though so recently opened) of 55,000 tons per annum." Port and railway both continued to function until the early part of this century (20th); but today Devoran presents a melancholy spectacle indeed, its quays ruinous and weed-grown, and the creek itself choked with silt from the very mines which once kept it so busy.
Adjoining Devoran is Point, where an active shipping trade once also flourished. The weekly shipping list for this place, dated May 1 1840, reads: Arrived, Restless, from LIanelly; Elizabeth and Mary, from Port Talbot; Gannell, from Chester; Susannah, from Salcombe; Merton, from Aberavon.-Sailed, Blanch, for Neath; Merton, for Swansea; Gannell, for Liverpool; Restless, for Bideford; Lord Rolle, for Llanelly; and Alert, for Port Talbot. What a picture of bustling activity this conjures up in the now sleepy backwater of Restronguet Creek.
The typical Cornish coastal path scene that I love.
“It was that big” “Are you sure?” “I don’t believe you!”
The ladies, having been disturbed by us, packed up and left, seen here disappearing under Suzie and Daphne’s favourite Trelissick tree.
What drew our attention to this boat was the hammer and sickle painted on the bow.
The picture below reminded me of the photo my mum and dad strolling along the promenade at Llandudno on their honeymoon.
The group setting off on the walk in Indian file.
Pausing while the dogs have a pee!
Frank and Daphne resting happily in the sunshine.
Peter looking puzzled?
Leaving the Gweek ceramic and teashop. The bickley’s new car, a Peugeot 306 estate.
The ealy morning crescent moon and bright star, Venus?
A view from the teashop grounds looking over to the boatyard.
The ceiling light in our bedroom.
Flamouth Dockyard. The new marina or pontoons are in the dark area just below the dockyard on the right of the picture.
The ‘town’ pontoons beyond Custon House Quay.
This is what Gyllyngvase looks like during the day.
Bob’s boatyard is on the right of the picture, well upstream.
The Helford River. Trebah is just out of the picture on the bottom left. Glendurgan is even further round towards the mouth of the river.
The popular view of Trebah.
Walking down to the beach.
Coy carping?
The sky peeping through the tree tops.
One of the many lovely views of the river through the trees.
The pool at the bottom of the garden.
Boats at play.
Trebah beach was ‘developed’ by the Americans for the D Day launch
All the different greens were breath taking.
And all the other colours.
Suzie not happy with having her photograph taken?
What are they looking for?
Shells for the children to play with on a rainy day?
Beating up river to the mooring, or a snack at the Ferryboat Inn?
The interesting looking platform. Where on earth could it be going?
Daphne keeping up with the ironing, a woman’s work is never done, while the rest of us are discussing where to go and what to do.
After lunch at Lerryn, the tide is just starting to come in. The stepping stones were just being covered, last chance to dash across the river.
A picture when the tide is fully in
Sue looking at the biomes while Frank was arguing with the lady on the admission desk.
The brown grass telling the story of a hot dry summer.
Has the grass worn away by all those people having a feel?