Wednesday
Before the holiday, we had agreed that it would be a great idea to visit The Eden Project. We booked tickets for today.
The gardens are located about an hour away from thee campsite but the drive was rather miserable due to mist and rain.
On arrival, we parked up in one of the many car parks before a long downhill walk to the entrance to the project which is housed in a disused clay pit.
This attraction is home to thousands of plant species with most housed within two giant geodesic domes which simulate an indoor rain forest (one of the largest in the world) whilst the other has houses a mediterranean environment.
The centre was opened in 2001 so this year is it’s twenty fifth anniversary.
We had all been before but it had been a while for us all.
Once admitted (with our pre purchased tickets – valid for the next twelve months) Linda and Pete (big kids) hired a couple of big marbles. Around the site, puzzles and marble runs had been constructed for the children but this pair were determined to join in. And why not?
One of the first to be encountered on our walk to the bottom of the valley was a maze where a large table had to be rotated to guide the ball from Start to Finish. They got there in the end.
Apart from the domes there are loads of plants from around the UK and some from further afield representing different environnemts.
Once at the bottom (all all marble runs completed) we made our way to the larger of the domes – The Rainforest.
There were warnings about the temperature which could rise to over thirty degrees with an almost one hundred percent humidity – well it is a rainforeset !
We made our way along a winding, steadily climbing path passing many tropical plants including banana, coffee, rubber and giant bamboo.
At the end of the path, there was an option to climb further on an open tread staircase but this was only open at certain times and we had just missed a slot.
We descended and exited the rainforest. The change in temperature / humidity was most refreshing and welcoming.
Before transferring to the med. we grabbed a bite to eat and a drink to replace lost fluids.
The mediterranean biome was and a lot cooler and smaller covering 1.6 acres as opposed to 3.9 in the other.
Here we were treated to sighting of temperate and arid plants including vines, olives and cacti.
Eventually, we had to face the prospect of a long climb back to the car park. Luckily, we found a lift which took us almost back to the visitor centre level (where Pete returned the marbles) and then even better, spotted a sign for a Park and Ride bus to the car parks. Normally, I’d have walked but my knee was really giving me some grief which wasn’t helped by the long walk down.
From the bus, a short, level walk took us back to the car. Sue was kind enough to drive back.
Thursday
I had, finally, managed a good night’s sleep so awoke almost refreshed.
This morning’s excursion (and no holiday would be complete without it) was to heritage railway. Located just twenty minutes from base, Helston Railway was originally eight and a half miles long and was the southern most branch line in the UK. It is now only a mile and a half but can now promote itself as the UK’s southern most preserved railway.
We parked up and purchased tickets and the obligatory teddy bear before retiring to the cafe for a drink before our departure.
A short walk took us to the platform where our train was waiting. The locomotive was a Barclay diesel unit attached to a mark one compartment coach and a class 128 DMU which was being used as a coach.
After a short ride we made our way back to the car diverting to a nearby shed where a traction engine was chugging away. One noticeable thing about this engine was it’s name. Built by Garrett, this model had been named Lesley. The owner was nearby and I asked if he was an opera fan – Lesley Garrett?
He wasn’t an opera fan boy as such but when he bought the machine it was called Popeye which he didn’t like so chose Lesley after the singer.
Following a bit of a chat about the engine (which was steamed up ready for it’s boiler inspection) we jumped back in the car and nipped down the road for a couple of geocaches before heading off for the harbour town of Porthleven.
We had a few caches to find here so Sue and I were dropped off whilst the rest of the gang went off to park the car.
Sue and I took a slow, window-shopping stroll along the east side of the harbour picking up a few caches (virtual & traditional) before meeting up with Linda and Pete near the pier at the end.
Backtracking, we nipped into the recently re-opened Nauti restaurant for a bite before continuing back around the harbour.
Sue and Linda spotted a craft shop spread over two floors for which they made a beeline instructing us boys to carry on with the AdLab and to meet up at The Ship Inn.
Pete and I had completed the Adventure Lab and were waiting outside of the aforementioned Inn. After a while we decided to nip inside for a swift one.
The Ship, according to CAMRA, was an old fishermen’s haunt. Inside we ordered a local brew and awaited the girls arrival.
Three quarters of the way down my pint, Sue phoned askeing where we were. “It looked like rain”, I lied, “So we sought shelter inside”. I heard Sue say to Linda, “I told you!”
Having joined us, another round was purchased, including some very nice real cider from the Bearded Brewery which the girls really enjoyed.
Aware of the time, we finished our drinks and as Pete and I made our way back to the car park, Sue and Linda took the opportunity to squeeze in a little bit more shopping.
Back at base, we had a few hours before having to go out again for a pre booked dinner to rest (especially after a couple of pints).
Dinner was at the nearby Angarrick Inn where we enjoyed an excellent meal before returning to base for a nightcap.
