The Tide Was Out at Charlestown Harbour - and So Were the Spiders

The tide at Charlestown was a very long way out. This seemed to give everything a different perspective. Just look at the old sea groin below, almost looks like some long lost sea monster.

As for the harbour wall, it looked so different without the covering of the sea. Interesting to see the variation of the stones.

Looking back across the rough sand and stones all seemed as it has been for hundreds of years.



We walked alongside the cliffs.

Must stress though that some of the cliffs are liable to fall occassionally. So care has to be taken.

We reached a cave which I find fascinating.

Fascinating because if you look upwards, while inside the cave, there is a square hole to the very top of the cliffs. I've heard various reasons for the hole but the one I like best is one I may have written previously:

We go back to the days of smuggling. The smugglers would beach their boat and rush their contraband to the cave. There would be a rope dangling through the hole and this would be used by the smugglers associates to heave the goods to the top. They would then transfer the smuggled goods to a safe house - and the boat would  quickly take sail before the customs men could take any action.

Could be true!

Lots of seaweed on the shore and rock pools.

Looking across to Cornwall's green fields.

With the tide so far out Charlestown harbour looked so very different.

And now moving on to something completely different: spiders and cobwebs!

There seems to be an abundance of spiders and cobwebs everywhere at the moment.

We have even had spiders in the house, several of them have popped in to say hello. Some quite large.

I never kill spiders, as the old saying goes: If you want to live and thrive, let the spider run alive.

I caught the spiders using a glass and a card. They were then released outside. 

Moving on we visited the Eden Project with our son and his family. One of the exhibits I wanted to see again were the horses made of driftwood by artist Heather Jansch. I had read that she sadly died in July.

The horses have been by the entrance to the Eden booking office for a long time. I'm always fascinated how they have been created from genuine driftwood.

Many thanks for visiting my blog - how quickly time time passes. Enjoy every moment ~ Mike 

Walking in Cornwall's China Clay Country

Here I am in Cornwall's china clay country, well away from the normal tourist trails. It's a different world and even has its own pyramids!

First though I have to walk under this bridge as a train thunders above.

My walk from here is uphill along a narrow road. Fortunately very few vehicles come this way.

The house below is one I quite fancy, with large grounds. Would be perfect if situated somewhere else in Cornwall.

Moving on, some distant views across the countryside, which doesn't look too much like china clay country at the moment.

The road narrows and there's a wind turbine ahead.

On the right of the road is an entrance to a farm.

Oh, and another wind turbine.

A Cornish flag is flying high. 

Not everyone though is so welcoming, but on the opposite side of the road ...

...  everything looks quite friendly!

Beginning to look more like china clay territory now. There are sightings of the white china clay - though it does look like snow!

Another wind turbine next to china clay.

Now we have a quarry: Goonavean Aggregates.

There's a lorry waiting to be filled with aggregate. Fortunately any big vehicles, like this, have to go the opposite way to where I have walked.

The general surroundings aren't, perhaps, quite so appealing now.

Yet another wind turbine with the spoils of the china clay in the background.

The white of the china clay but nature is fighting back.

I decided now to retrace my steps, homeward bound, by the Greensplat Quarry.

It's downhill on the return trip, the road is narrow as can be seen by the 6 feet, 6 inches warning sign below. 

A few views across the countryside. 

Going downhill what do I see? The sea in the distance!

High hedges along the road spoil some of the views.

Even the fence is going downhill now.

The end of my walk. After going under the bridge I'm back where I started. On the wall are the details of the bridge.

Now, what way do I go home - oh, yes I remember.

To finish the post, below is a photo I took a while back. The scene is known locally as the White Pyramid.

As for the china clay industry in Cornwall please see my post: The China Clay Industry in Cornwall.

Plus there is much more info at the Wheal Martyn Museum

Thanks for visiting my Cornwall blog. Have a great weekend and week ahead ~ Mike.

The Village of Polgooth, Cornwall

Our feet led us to Polgooth, once a Cornish mining village. To do so we followed a public footpath but found it was nearly blocked by corn - sweet corn - which was as high as an elephant's eye.

We fought our way through the corn, okay a slight exageration, and was soon walking down one of the country lanes.

We reached Polgooth village and some of the old cottages.

But not all of the village houses are old, look at the one below for example. I wonder what the old 18th century tin miners would have made of such a design.

We followed the churns!

The antiques shop was closed but some bits and pieces were in the window.

We noticed the teapot with the motto: Be like a sundial. Count only sunny hours.

We then followed the route to the Polgooth Inn. We've had a few pleasant meals here over the years. Polgooth, by the way, means Goose Pond in the Cornish language.

Some old agricultural machinary languishing  on the grassy bank ...

... and cattle trotting up the green hill.

Pleasant to see poppies and other flowers still on the roadside banks.

The sign post could do with a clean but it details a few nearby places.

There are some interesting trees in the village.

Most of the roads haven't any pavements. So just as well there aren't too many cars about.

A typical road. It can be a bit sticky if two cars approach each other from different directions.

Look out, horses about!

A few horses enjoying the freedom of the green fields.

We are now approaching the main A390 road and the end of Polgooth. In the far distance are buildings used by the china clay industry.

Another corn field alongside the A390.

As we walked along the grass we spotted this lonely little toy dog. Perhaps lost by a child from the school on the opposite side of the road. I placed him somewhere he might be seen. 

This is the old St. Mewan school, there are newer buildings behind.

Next to the Old School is, of course, the Old School House, but no longer used by the school.

And finally a Post Box tucked away at the side of the road. Our car was parked nearby, so it was homeward bound for a pot of tea.

Many thanks for visiting my blog, all good wishes for the weekend and week ahead~ Mike.