++ CORNWALL '99 ++

This is the 3 May 2005 edition of this page, showing a report of last year's explorations of our South West Peninsular.

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The objectives were:-

(A) Cornwall's TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Having waited for THIS since I was a small boy with an interest in Astronomy, I managed, in January, to book a small B& B place in St. Austell (first two tries were already booked up) - and went by car to this for some hoped-for mobility!!

With the car's mobility, the Eclipse being on 11 August, I intended to visit
(B) the "Lost Gardens of Heligan" (as per CH4 TV) on 10th August- and, on 12th August, visit the areas that I used to visit as a schoolboy in the
(C) Polzeath and Chapel Amble areas. That was way back in the 40's and 50's, and was to be a sentimental revisit to the 'place of my ancesters'.


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HOW IT REALLY WENT:-

9th August - The journey to Cornwall

Contrary to the catastrophic predictions of the travel authorities (e.g 200 mile tailbacks), the trip was very quick, easy and enjoyable. Rain? Yes!! But pleasurable and with no hassle. The journey from Malvern to St Austell (225 miles) was only hindered in the last three miles from St Blazey!

10th August - The Lost Gardens of Heligan (between St Austell and Mevagissy)

I found them! I was right at 'opening time' at the front of the day's queue and so 'no hassle there!
My initial exploration of them was via the 'woodlands' and into the 'JUNGLE',

rather like taking a walk in woods around home (except that this was private property for which I'd paid an entry fee!)

I then made my way to the Lost Valley and exitted there via a steep walk up to the EAST LAWN and the Northern Gardens.


The walled Flower Garden was well-annotated with plant species and sub-species but by mid-day the crowds were making it too much hassle to do any serious observations.
The ravine and the Vegetable Garden were also explored - the latter also being well- annotated - just like in the Flower Garden. In fact, in a walk through the Vegetable area, there were much prettier flowers than in the Flower garden!!
There being no toilets INSIDE the garden, one had to exit to those outside the paydesk and then re-enter with the same 'sticker' without further payment.
Of course, by this time (only a few hours away from tomorrow's TOTAL ECLIPSE of the Sun) - the crowds and queues were almost impenetrable and very excited!! After purchasing a little amount of cooling refreshment (yes, - my desire for ice-creams never leaves me!) I returned to the Flower Gardens via the ravine. With the size of the crowds, now, any concentrated observations were going to be difficult and unlikely.
After leaving in the early afternoon, I decided to visit Mevagissey. That journey had to be aborted within half a mile of the town due to the congestion - but see 12th August.

11th August - ECLIPSE DAY

I had planned to take Patrick Moore's wise advice and enjoy the 'experience' and forget about cameras. (I did have the digital and 35mm ones with me). I had also got a diagram from the 'Electronic Telegraph' showing planetary positions during the eclipse.

So what with the solar corona, Bailey's beads, the prominences, the diamond ring AND the planets, it was going to be a very busy 1 minute 50 seconds during 'totality'!! To be able to use TIME wisely, I found a nice green open-space near my lodgings, ensuring that all angles would enable me to see the important items. I would have to cast the Telegraph's map of the planets to memory - as total darkness would not allow visual 'cribs' later!!

The weather (i.e. cloud) predictions proved far more worrying as E-Day and E-time approached. Unfortunately, they also proved far more accurate!! I stayed in my hosts' garden, telling the host family that it would be VERY dark because the 100% cloud cover wouldn't permit even the Sun's corona to be seen!

As it got a little darker even than the overcast skies provided , the birds were getting even more confused than we humans. They had not got any printouts to give them clues!! About a couple of minutes before 'totality' a small group of seagulls squawked in a puzzled way looking at each other and saying something like "Bedtime lads!!" - and then they shot off in the direction of the coast without even filing a flight-plan!!

Then, to add to the human FIASCO of this day, an absent neighbour's automatic darkness detector switched his back-garden lights on - so one of my host's family said they are "not in", let's go to the front garden!

On arrival there after a quick rush through the house (now quite dark) they decided to take a few photos of each other and asked me to take one of them all in a family group. Now I'd only told one of them about Patrick Moore's advice - so I went-along with their request! Trouble was, although I'd found where the 'button to push' was - I could see absolutely nothing through the view-finder!! Surprise, Surprise!!

However, in four or five seconds, the visibility improved and I could see the family ready to photograph. Totality was over!!

People on TV, despite the clouds were raving about a 'marvellous experience'. Astronomers, like myself, were more disappointed. No! FIASCO is the word I'm looking for. I'd only waited for this event since about 1946! Still, just like the buses, there be another one behind! Unfortunately - the INTERVAL is a very large one! (A long way into the next century!)

12th August
Polzeath, Chaple Amble and Mevagissey Revisited

As a yougster, from 1946 until 1953, the family of which I was the eldest child, made regular visits to North Cornwall. My father's aunt lived in the village of Chapel Amble - and our favourite 'spot' was the fabulous beach at Polzeath!

I did return there with my own family in the mid-seventies - but its beauty and freedom had, unfortunately, been very much reduced. On last year's trip, I wanted to visit these 'old haunts'. Due to some extensive roadworks near Bodmin (and some poor signposting) I received a substantial detour through the old little lanes. That part of the voyage most resembled the Cornwall of the 40's and 50's that I had known.

By the 70's the sheer number of yellow-lines had changed the place for the worse. No longer had my younger brother and I got the beach to ourselves!! Quarter of a Century sure changed the place! Fortunately, its degradation rate had been reduced over the last quarter of a century. 'Polzeath' is still a very good beach - but far from its magical appeal of the 50's. Commercialisation has got everywhere.

On visiting a small exhibition on beach-life, I managed to have a small chat with the lady running it. We both commented on the changes noticed. Having had a few hours, this time, on its sands and cliffs (the latter's splendour shattered by over- development), I could truthfully report that for surfing, Polzeath beats Australia's Bondi Beach hands-down!

Bondi's proximity to Sydney caused it, I suppose, to be within range for the OLYMPIC developments. Their beach has been ruined, - explaining why their BIG surfing events are now held at Margaret River (south of Perth - far away in Western Australia!)

Having been caught in heavy traffic a couple of days previously, I decided to visit Mevagissey - on my return to St Austell. Here's three shots of the place!

Mevagissy No1:-


These selectable by hyperlink... just click!!
Mevagissy No2

Mevagissy No3



Return to 1999's Index page to continue that year's trips.


Return to Roy's home page for full list of books and other writings either finished or under preparation.