There and Back

Thursday started as an easy morning looking, and finding, a local Geocache with Izobelle and Rosey. Afterwards we went for coffee and cake to the Duchy Coffee shop near by. It had looked very tempting from the outside and we were not disappointed. Coffee and cake digested, on the way back I took a picture of St Bartholomew Church near the house. The present church at Lostwithiel was mainly built around 1300, though first mentioned in about 1220. Before this, Lostwithiel inhabitants had to climb the steep hill to Lanlivery or go down river to St Winnow to worship. Built in the Early English (or first Gothic) style when the town was a prosperous river port, Lostwithiel church stood at the top of a medieval triangular marketplace. The Duchy Palace and river crossing were at the lower end of this space.  Most Cornish churches were enlarged in the late medieval and Tudor period when the tin industry started to generate wealth, but not Lostwithiel. A new churchyard cr...

Wednesday was earmarked for a trip to the Eden Project - amazing to see the changes since last here. I believe there were just the two main Biomes. People were pouring in when we arrived on a beautiful sunny day. We wandered around many of the educational areas which kept Izobelle (and the rest of us) thoroughly amused. It really is well laid out and caters for all ages with its displays. Took a few images of the area to try and convey the size of the place. History:  The clay pit in which the project is sited was in use for over 160 years. In 1981, the pit was used by the BBC as the planet surface of Magrathea in the 1981 TV series of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. By the mid-1990s the pit was all but exhausted. The initial idea for the project dates back to 1996, with construction beginning in 1998. The work was hampered by torrential rain in the first few months of the project, and parts of the pit flooded as it sits 15 m (49 ft) below the water table.  ...

Tuesday was a trip to the  Lost Gardens of Heligan  which was the family seat of the Tremaynes for over 400 years. By the early 20th century the house fell into neglect and the gardens were allowed to become overgrown.  The Tremayne family purchased the Heligan estate from the Hill family in the 16th century and built a new manor house here in 1603. The house was rebuilt in 1692 in William and Mary style. The superb gardens surrounding the house were begun by Rev. Henry Hawkins Tremayne in the late 18th century. Rev. Tremayne called in Thomas Gray to create a garden plan around 1780, and this plan helped the eventual restoration work. Tremayne planted trees to screen the site and laid out the northern gardens and rose garden.  The Burmese Rope Bridge across 'The Jungle'  Later generations of the family added a wild area known as The Jungle, with subtropical plants including giant tree ferns, overlooking the fishing port at Mevagissey below...

Monday started early with Izobelle and I going in search of a church micro Geocache, then off to Padstow for the day. We found the Cache, much to her delight! A cold but bright day and a promise of no rain- sounded good to us all as we headed out, driven by Andrew. We arrived in Padstow to find and plenty of people there, but not too crowded, and considering it was half term. Having had a wander and look in a few shops,Rosey and I then went for a wander toward the war memorial, out of the main town and to where there was access to beautiful beaches and fantastic scenery. Looking toward Rock from Padstow  The WW1 War Memorial Wandered back and met the family and made our way to Rick Stein fish and chip. beautiful fish with great, and not too thick, batter. Had to queue for ages to get in!  Busker on the harbour wall.  I was not sure of the function of this vessel! All together a great day out in Padstow, I can see ...