Travelling Back In Time to the Cornwall of 2012 - 15 Photos

It has been decidedly wet and windy recently so I thought I'd do a little time travel and take us back to 2012 when the sun was shining. This was the year the Olympics were being held in London.

The Olympic flame and torch were travelling throughout Britain and there was a lot of interest here in Cornwall as the torch journeyed through St.Austell. The crowds were out, as were the police.

The policeman below was showing quite an interest in the proceedings, something seems to have caught his eye.

Some of the onlookers were dressed in their finery for this special occasion.

The wait though got a bit boring after a while ...

... so there was time to suck on an ice lolly with the union flag in hand.

There's always someone who'll try to keep a waiting crowd entertained.

Ah ha, won't be long now as the London police car has arrived - and who says that policemen can't smile!

Reminded me of that very old song:

I know a fat old policeman, he's always on our street
A fat old, jolly red-faced man, he really is a treat
He's too fine for a policeman, he's never known to frown
And everybody says he is the happiest man in town
He laughs upon his duty, he laughs upon his beat
He laughs at everybody when he's walking in the street
He never can stop laughing, he says he'd never tried
But once he did arrest a man and laughed until he died.

Then at last things were happening and a few more smiles were on display.

Another policeman all the way from London.

They were said to be trained officers from the Metropolitan Police Service - aptly known as the Torch Security Team.

At last the torch and flame arrived.

And here's a second look at the torch.

The runners and officials had their own coach.

Then the party was soon over ...

... and people slowly dispersed. 

A  lingering police van made sure we got back to 2020 safely.

Brrr! It's dull, grey and rainy back here in 2020.

Walking to Malpas, Cornwall Alongside the River

We decided on a shortish walk starting at Boscawen Park, Truro - where there is free car parking. From here there are views of the cathedral, though it looks better when the tide is high.

From here we walked alongside the Truro River. The park's playing fields and the trees are all very pleasant.

The river is quite muddy when the tide is out.

So, a muddy view follows. I read that the mudflats are feeding grounds for wildfowl and wading birds as well as fish species including European sea bass, thicklip grey mullet, European flounder and European eel. 

The sun popped out brightly as we reached the aptly named Sunny Corner.

Several small boats on parade - real stick in the muds though!

The Flower Pot Family welcomed us with a smile.

It was then time to climb some steps onto a footpath, which led through the woods.

The path took us to Malpas Village. The only problem on the path was that the tall trees hid the views of the river.

Perhaps we hadn't missed much as the river was still very muddy. 

At Malpas the river becomes the Tresillian River, which later flows into the River Fal.

There are some pleasant houses in the village overlooking the river.

A few small boats visible now.

The river widens as it makes it's way between the tree laden banks.

Bits and pieces  to enjoy on the river.

For a moment the river sparkled in the sun, all looked so peaceful.

This photo just because I like Porshe cars!

We started to retrace our steps ...

... passing the Heron Inn

In normal pre-virus days we would probably have had a drink here - but times have changed. We found somewhere overlooking the river to sit and devour our packed lunch - and a flask of tea (of course!)

We wandered back and soon found ourselves  at Sunny Corner once more. There's a veranda here with seats, so we sat for a while - as there was no one else about.

We then made our way back to Boscawen Park.

The park usually has some impressive flower beds but this year they have been sowed with wild flowers - beginning to fade now though.

The cricket pitch looked well cared for - with the score board in position.

It was then just a short walk back to our car.

A couple of other random walks:

(1) Walking to Black Head, Cornwall - With Magnificent Views of Coastline

(2) 33 Photos: A Circular Walk Based On Gover Valley, St.Austell, Cornwall

A Dozen Photos of South Cornwall Near St. Austell Bay

A dozen mixed photos taken when I was out and about. Must have been up early to catch the misty view of Gribbin Head above - can just make out the Gribbin Tower.

And below a couple of horses pleaded to have their photo taken, so I couldn't refuse. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Looking down from the foot bridge over the railway lines at St. Austell. The church always dominates the town.

Here we are now, under a viaduct, looking at the river.

More water and for some inexplicable reason it made me think of the biggest high quality gold nugget ever found which weighed more than 150 lb. No, it wasn't found in Cornwall but was discovered by two Cornish men, John Deason and Richard Oates in 1869. They found it when prospecting near Moliagul in Australia. The men sold it for £9,532. According to an Internet calculator this would be 793263.07 in today's money! 

A terrace of old cottages ...

... and a few more overlooking the countryside.

A small cul de sac and in the distance the only high rise block of flats in Cornwall.

If in Cornwall the sea is never too far away - a bollard for boats, not that there were any about, but I remember it had rained quite heavily thus the puddle.

A sea wall built of local stone ...

... and someone walking on the wall.

The glistening sea at the end of another busy day.

A Return to Charlestown Harbour and the Old Sailing Ships

We hadn't been to Charlestown since July because of the coronavirus but, on a chilly day, with only a few people about, we decided to see if any old sailing ships where in dock.

Looking over the wall, behind the building above, all looked very bright and inviting.

Usually there are lots of people walking the harbour walls but all was quiet.

Yes, there were old sailing ships in dock - though the weather was on the change.

A side view of the same sailing ship, with some of the harbour cottages looking down.

The photo below is looking upwards to the top of the main mast. A platform is often seen on such ships, way above the deck. It was known as 'The Fighting Top'.

The Fighting Top was an enlarged top, sometimes with swivel guns designed to fire down on the deck of an enemy ship. They could also be manned by snipers with muskets or rifles.

But all was peaceful while we were there and the canons were quiet.

Another view of one of the tall ships.

The morning was definitely getting colder. One family was crossing the narrow bridge homeward bound.

Looking over at the stony beach again a couple looked decidedly chilly but, good gracious, one hardy woman was having a swim! You can just see her head at the bottom of the photo. I preferred to have a cup of tea!

Three previous posts on Charlestown:

1) Charlestown Harbour, Port and Sailing Ships - Plus Prostitutes in the 1700s and1800s

2) A Stroll Around Poldark's Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall - 12 Photos

3) Charlestown, Cornwall With Sailing Ships In The Harbour