2017 Hurricane Season

Home at Last!

We arrived home in June staying in London with Maria for a couple of days sight-seeing. Then travelled down to Cornwall. The usual problem finding a parking slot so we pulled up at the front door (in the pouring rain) and transferred it very quickly.

The spider plant has survived eight months with no water but is in need of some TLC. Apart from that everything is as we left it!

First job then to take the secondary glazing down and open the windows, yes they needed cleaning.

A side trip to Liddle for essentials like croissants, milk, etc etc, and we were set to enjoy the British summer. Both Malcolm and I had Drs/dentist appointments to sort out minor irritations and replenish the meds needed for cruising. Somewhere amongst all this was Marc and Laurens wedding and a visit to mums (who is in great shape), and short visits to other friends.

We then settled in properly and told everyone to visit. Our dear friends Val and John came to lunch and had a long session catching up with news.

The first nice day we did a coast path walk from Swanpool to Queen Marys’ Gardens,

Raised Bed

on the way back we called in at Swanpool house to say hi to Malcolm and Pat and invite them to dinner. They looked after the cottage when we had it as a holiday let and are almost retired, enjoying a more hectic life as Grand-parents!

28^th July our trip to Eden, where we were unable to climb the Tropical walkway again, it being after lunch and the temperature was sufficiently high to close it for the day. Next year we will be first on the list in the morning!!!

1^st August, we walked from the cottage to Enys Gardens, Penryn.

Araucaria sp. Chile

Lower Pond

5th August The Falmouth Carnival.

Later on in the Week Fireworks display for the end of the Festival but the phone didn't get good pictures.

Eric & Maria spent a couple of days with us and enjoyed sightseeing in Falmouth and short walks to the waterfront in Penryn.

22^nd August a day out to Bodmin by bus. Which was delayed by an hour when the bus lost it’s radiator coolant and had to be repaired. However it was a delightfully sunny day and we managed to see the Beacon

Bodmin & Wenford Steam railway with a train coming in. We also grabbed a pasty for lunch.

Main Street

In Town, ‘Shire Hall’ which recently lost it’s status (1988) to Truro and has become a heritage attraction with the enactment of an old trial in it’s courtroom. In the 1086 Doomsday survey Bodmin had the shrine of St Petroc housing his relics which made it a place of pilgrimage and maybe the reason for Thomas Beckets chapel falling to ruin. This survey also said that Bodmin was the largest town in the county with over 60 dwellings! St Petroc’s Church (built 1469-72),was the largest church in Cornwall until Truro Cathedral was built (1880-1910). of particular note is the huge font and many stained glass windows. Outside is the ruins of St Thomas Becket Chapel. (note to self update trip advisor).

Thomas Beckets Chapel

Bodmin Gaol

A walk of about 15 minutes brought us to Bodmin Gaol. We were running out of time but decided to risk a later bus to allow us to visit in leisure. Wikipedia does a good job of details so suffice it to say that it’s a massive Gaol being heated to 15C in winter and summer! For it’s time quite modern having cells for individual prisoners. Some now have scenes of the gory doings which sent the perpetrators to their death. Mostly other punishments for the age were the stocks, pillories and the First class punishment a treadwheel (this like a large hamster wheel which damaged -even broke the legs if treading was stopped!) 15 minutes on the machine and then 15 minutes at second class punishment -picking Oakum from old ropes which was later used for re caulking boats.

Finally a local beer for liquid refreshment, then a look round the High Street shops and home.
25th August. Bus to Flushing then walk to Mylor for a beer and walk back in the late afternoon sun.
26th August. Penryn Carnival.
It seems that things have changed, only walkers and bands gone are the trailers with beauty Queens on them and the music!  That said there was a real town ethos most societies and charities had stalls.

Town Sergeant

Static display of classic cars

Model Steam engine.

27th August. A day trip to St Ives by bus looking at the countryside. On arrival we sauntered through the seaside town which was packed with visitors (it being another fine day).  We looked at the Coastguard station and made a start on the path towards Lands End, at last some peace, but all too soon it was time to catch the bus home.

The seafront

Beach Art

Heritage coastal Path

3rd September- Travel to Reading to wish Helga a Happy Birthday and spent time catching up with them.  The following day we rounded off the journey back to Sandwich stopping only for lunch at the Dog & Duck in Plucks Gutter . With a short walk along the river to digest the food.

9th September Hastings. Heritage weekend. It seems to have the greatest number of Fish eateries!
We also did a town tour looking at all the timber framed houses,passing through some 'twitterns' (we call them Opes in Penryn) which are narrow passages which the smugglers used to escape the authorities.  It has much in common with it's primary Cinque Port namely Sandwich.  Of course Hastings is still on the coast unlike Sandwich which means that fishing boats are still prevalent together with their sheds for storing nets etc.

West Hill looking to sea, 

We took the rail car up the cliff for the view.

Old anchor in the Museum grounds with net sheds in the background

The Cheese wedge Mr & Mrs Michael Mouse once spent their summer holidays here!

The winclke society

Prow of a Norman longboat Sculpt

Notice to invite people to ring the bells- I couldn't find the beel pull.

Also on the seafront but no idea what it is?

Old town house

We only had a few drops of rain and choose that interval to have lunch. In all a pleasant day out.
10th September. Heritage day in Sandwich and I found out what the ruins were in Guildcount Lane! The doors were open and the owner explained that it was the remains of an older house built for the weavers which owner the three adjoining houses.  It had been built- like many of the merchant houses in the Dutch West Indies- with ballast from the trading boats, and recycled flints from Richborough castle and stones from other countries. Many other houses were open so we toured again at our own pace.

Chantry house ruins- now a delightful walled garden.

Chantery House, the Weavers and the old library on Strand Street.

History of St Johns Hospital