T is for Towanroath: a marvel on the path

Towanroath Engine House.

Another exhilarating day along the South West Coast Path, this time to take in the awesome sea cliffs of St. Agnes Head and the impressive Towanroath Engine House, built in 1872, and restored by the National Trust. The purple heather and yellow gorse now blanket what would have been an industrial landscape during Cornwall’s great mining era!

Coastguards patrolling the peninsula looking for smugglers originally created the Coast Path with its old stone stiles and walls. They literally had to check in every inlet so their cliff top walk was well used and it is a fundamental part of the attraction of being in Cornwall.

Coast Path and the Townroath in the distance.

Heather and gorse along the path.

We have company; Andrea, with her dog and campervan arrived this morning! 

One of my pleasures this celebratory year has been to connect with the people I know in the world. Andrea and I met when we both lived in France, and here we are, 30 years later, walking, talking and sitting on a pavement bench in St. Agnes, munching on Cornish pasties, drinking ginger beer and reconnecting.

Fred, Sharon and Andrea
Bridging 30 years - France 1986 and Cornwall 2016!

H is for Heligan: finding The Giant

Andrea recommended a visit to Heligan en route to Fowey and we marvelled at the story of the rebuilding of this historic Cornwall estate. It was a self sufficient community for centuries and WWI changed everything. It fell into disuse, brambles taking over and it took the vision and work of Tim Smit since 1990 to recreate its former glory.

Fred bought a children's book called The Giant by Sandra Horn and Karen Popham for Baby Hadfield, as The Giant is the star attraction for children in the garden - and for me too.

Joy of a garden!

B is for Bubbles: two times 60 celebrating

A bottle of Taitinger.
A sunset over Fowey.
A who would have thought moment for Andrea and me, both celebrating our sixtieth birthdays with a little bit of French panache.