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 …

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 …

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.

Bicentennial Celebrations

Today was a big day for the village as there were festivities to mark the 200 years since the creation of the Portreath to Poldice tramroad which linked the county's inland mines with Portreath harbour.

In 1809, Francis Basset, Lord De Dunstanville, laid the first piece of track linking the small port with the mines in the St Day area. At Portreath, Cornish copper ore would then be transported to South Wales for smelting and coal from South Wales imported to power Cornish engines in return. The day's events all began after lunch when people gathered at the village school and there was a procession to the harbour.

Many people had dressed up in Victorian costume for the occasion and it was led by Cornish fiddlers complete with a pack-horse, a horsedrawn carriage with Mr Williams of Scorrier House on board and traditional dancing by local children.

While they were progressing to the harbour a 40ft Cornish Lugger arrived as part of the re-enactment of the copper for coal exchange.





We then listened to speeches and a ceremonial exchange of a piece of coal for a piece of copper.

The procession then left the harbour ...




and made its way to Greenfield Gardens for the unveiling of the replica early 19th century tram wagon which had been built by Pool Business and Enterprise College and mounted on cast iron plates and original set stones.




After a few more speeches the local children were given a Portreath penny which had been specially minted from Cornish copper to mark the occasion.

The Cornish Lads entertained us in the gardens ...

and everyone had a fantastic afternoon. The sun shone which in itself was a miracle considering all the bad weather we'd endured during the week.

In the evening when we walked Hamish we went back to the Gardens to see the wagon and memorial stone ...