We are now back in Surrey at Alderstead Heath camp site, as Mike’s 6 monthly blood tests etc. were due today. Last week we spent a very enjoyable visit to the south coast of Cornwall, around St Austell, staying at Carlyon Bay Caravan & Camp site, halfway between Fowey and Mevagissey. Although it was still pretty cold and windy for springtime, we did get a few days sunshine, and managed to get around the area on the local buses and on foot (aren’t bus passes just great!).
Our first day out was to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey. We first visited there in 1998 when they were still uncovering and restoring areas of the garden which had been overgrown for 50 years. They have pretty much finished the restoration now, and made a magnificent job of it.
- The Walled Garden – Plum trees espaliered
- The Italian Garden
- The Vinery in 1991
- The Vinery today
- Inside The Vinery
- The New Zealand Garden
- Witches Broom (growth on tall tree) and NZ Garden in the background
Although it was still early springtime many flowers like daffodils and primroses were blooming, but the kitchen garden was looking bare as it had only recently been planted out.
On Day 2 we opted for The Eden Project just outside St Austell as it was raining, and we figured we could stay mainly dry in the Biomes (bio-domes). This was pretty much true, however we found there was also much to see outside, but it was too wet to spend much time out in the rain.
- As it looks on a sunny day !
- As it was the day we visited – wet, wet, wet
- View inside the Rain Forest Biome
We did enjoy our roam through the Rain Forest and Mediterranean domes, and had a nice lunch in the Bakery which is housed in the underground Link between the Biomes. (The Bakery was very noisy though, as it was crowded with families enjoying a day out during the school holidays).
- Lookout in the roof of the Rain Forest Biome
- Rain Forest waterfall
- Cafe in the Mediterranean Biome (dome)
Our next day out was to nearby Charlestown, originally built as a port to load china clay directly into ships for export, and home now to tall ships used mainly for filming. The only ship in port at that time was The Earl of Pembroke, used in filming The Onedin Line, and the Hornblower series. Also in the port is the Shipwreck Museum which is very interesting to explore with the history of the china clay exports, and famous (plus local) shipwrecks and rescues.
- The Earl of Pembroke in historic Charlestown harbour.
We continued on to Mevagissey by bus, where we wandered the narrow streets, lanes and harbours (inner and outer), and had a typical lunch on the Quay – Cornish Pasties and (not so typical) red wine! Lovely grub.
- Mevagissey inner harbour
- Mevagissey inner harbour, tide on the way out
The following day was another bus trip in the other direction to Fowey where, after a coffee on the quayside, we took a boat ride around the River Fowey Estuary and up-river aways – a little restricted on distance as the tide was going out and leaving all the boats high and dry on the mud flats. Although a nice day the wind was cold on the water, so we were quite pleased to get back to the quayside again for lunch.
- River Fowey, Cornwall, 16 April 2013
- Our tour boat “Troy” – same name as Jan’s grandson
- Parish Church and The Place (stately home)
Our last day out in Cornwall was by bus (again) to Truro, the county capital. Apart from the thriving Farmers Market underway by the bus station and riverside, we were impressed by the magnificent Gothic Cathedral which can compare with many others in UK and Europe, even though it was built in 1880 to 1910 – nearly a thousand years younger than most of its contemporaries in UK and Europe.
- Truro Cathedral – built 1880-1910
- Truro Cathedral interior
The foundation stone was laid in 1880 by the then Prince of Wales & Duke of Cornwall (later Edward VII). The centenary of the foundation was celebrated in 1980 by the unveiling by Prince Charles, the present Prince of Wales & Duke of Cornwall, of a beautiful painting of Cornwall from the air titled “Cornubia – Land of the Saints” by John Miller.
This huge painting shows the location of all the churches in the county, each marked by a Cornish cross and a candle flame, with the cathedral at its centre, with a ray of light or beacon shining upwards where all the saints associated with Cornwall are lined up in the sky. It is quite stunning, and more details can be seen by following the link:
http://a2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/3d187457b1e2406d81e291fcd20f70cc/l.jpg
- “Cornubia” by John Miller
We drove back to Surrey via Devon and Bristol over last weekend, visiting friends we met in Spain, plus the Cotswolds with other friends from Datapoint UK days. It is a real joy to catch up with old friends at any time, especially when we’ve not seen them for many months or years.
On Saturday we’re off to Salisbury for a few nights, then to Somerset to see other good friends we met in Spain, and to get the van serviced and MOT’d, and generally spruced up before we head off to Europe again in May.
Bye for now!
Travels with d'Hobby 
