Last Day–Padstow

Just a hint of rain this morning.  We’d decided on Padstow for my last day and used the park and ride as the town is always difficult to park in.  There were loads of boats in the harbour and the place was buzzing …

There were so many children crabbing and they all seemed to be catching plenty …

We had a wander around the shops, lunched in The Old Ship Hotel and then found the Christmas shop …

A last evening walk around the site and the rabbits were out and about plus an interesting piece of metalwork …

Apparently there’d been rain all around us but we’d had a lovely day ending with a lovely sunset …

Fun in the Harbour

Our friends Mark and Stuart are camping in Cornwall this week and they came over to try their kayak at Portreath.  The sea was too rough so they pumped it up to use in the harbour.  Jo and Paul were also here – Jo in her wetsuit ready for any eventuality!

I was so impressed with the kayak that I searched the internet for one and have ordered from Amazon.  Reckon the grand-kids will love it next week!

Crocus Transported to a New Home for the Winter

I was up bright and early this morning as the crane was booked for nine o’clock and I had loads to do beforehand.  Crocus is off to a workshop where Roger, his daughter Nicki and the team from the Cornish Wooden Boat Company can work on her and make her fit to sail. 

Roger and co arrived before eight and prepped her then while they waited they began stripping the old trackmark decking off her.  This showed up a few problem places on the deck but I have every faith in them that they’ll get her sorted.

The transporter arrived and so began the delicate job of lifting and settling her on the flatbed trailer …

Roger and the chaps had left and were at the shed getting it ready to receive her but Nicki stayed and travelled with her …

It was then just a case of reversing out from the harbour, the driver nipping over to the pasty shop to collect some sustenance and then they were off …

I received a text later to say that she was safely tucked up inside the workshop.

Now the expensive bit begins!!

Crocus has her own Blog.  If you want to follow her progress then check her out here.  As you’ll see she hasn’t been worked on for several years which has been due to Mike’s health.  He has finally accepted that he’s unable to finish her which is why she’s been moved today.

Boat Trip and Beach

Paul’s sister Karen and her husband are down in Cornwall for a few days and I was invited along for the boat trip up the Fal.  We drove into Falmouth and parked at the Quarry, made our way down to Prince of Wales Pier, bought pasties for lunch and sat on the pier eating them.  The weather was fantastic and it was soon time to board the Western Endeavour. 

The tide was really low and on previous trips there had always been more water.  It was interesting to see the river with mud on either side of us.

We got right up to Malpas where we turned around with only about two feet of water beneath us! 

When we were almost back to our mooring we saw a massive yacht which is owned by Roger Taylor the drummer with Queen …

Someone was waving to us from a window – maybe it was Roger!!!

Later on they all came down to Portreath beach where Jo and Karen braved the water …

Dogs on a Kayak!

During the heatwave I was sitting on our verandah watching the antics in the harbour.  One of my friends from Pilates came down with her husband, two dogs and a kayak.  With all of them wearing life-jackets they set off for a paddle around the harbour to get the dogs used to floating on the water …

Brilliant!!  They all really enjoyed themselves.

Some Get it Very Wrong and Some Get it Right!

We’ve had two visiting yachts so far this summer.  The first one, “Kynance”,  I just happened to spot as I looked out and saw a mast.  With all the boats in the harbour being fishing boats then a mast is decidedly unusual and required some investigation.  Hamish was thrilled to have his harness and lead produced and we walked around to take a look.  Apparently there were some very embarrassed sailors keeping well hidden in their cabin as people came to see them and to try and help.  They emerged eventually and ropes were used to attach them.

When I walked Hamish the next day the yacht had sailed on the morning tide and I was subsequently told that it was heading for St Ives.

The second yacht had obviously got it just right as it was moored up next to one of our fishing boats.

The “Tir an Og” also sailed off on the next morning tide and disappeared.