The Calm before The Storm

Today was gray and gloomy;
with not even a whisper from the wind.

". . . these are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang."

~ from Moby Dick (by Herman Melville)

The beauty of silence...

Everything in life is speaking
in spite of it's apparent silence.
- Hazrat Inayat Khan

St. Ives Bay in a Mist...

The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

- Henry Miller

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 9a & 9b

We've come now, to the end of our island tour, I hope you've enjoyed St. Michael's Mount!
St. Michael's Mount (Cornish: Karrek Loes yn Koes), rises majestically almost 230 feet from sea level to the tower, chapel and battlement of the castle. Approximately 500 yards offshore the Mount is reached by small ferry boats which ply between Marazion and the Mount's harbour at high tide, or a granite causeway which enables pedestrian and service traffic at low water. Fairytale, Magik and Legends, this historic island has it all! Before we leave this series, I'd like to share a story or two...

Once, it had been thought to have been the site of the ancient island of 'Ictis'. This being the major tin exporting port of the 'Cassiterides' - the tin islands trading with the Phoenicians or Greeks of the eastern Mediterranean from about the 4th Century BC. Dedicated to the Archangel St. Michael, the Mount is approximately 400 metres offshore, and can be reached at low tide by a stone causeway. Local legend has a more colourful explanation: the Mount was built by, and home to, the giant 'Comoran'. He would come ashore and steal sheep and cows from the mainland and return to the Mount to eat his meal. He was supposedly killed by a local boy, later called Jack - the Giant Killer. In another legend, St. Michael the Archangel,
is believed to have appeared here in AD 710.

In the 11th century it was given to the monks of Mont St Michel in France who founded a priory here. At the dissolution in 1539, the revenues were given to Henry Arundell who was appointed Governor. The Mount, on the orders of Sir Francis Basset, then Sheriff of Cornwall, remained loyal to the King during the English Civil War but it was attacked and taken by Parliamentary forces, under the command of Colonel Hammond, in April 1646. Major Ceeley was appointed Governor in 1659, by Richard Cromwell who had briefly succeeded his father as Lord Protector. At the Restoration in 1660, John St Aubyn became the proprietor, and the Mount has continued in that family ever since. The nunnery and house for the monks were placed below the church to the east, south and west; they were much altered during work in 1720 to convert the buildings into a family residence for the St Aubyn family. Further alterations were made in 1826. Since 1660 it has been in the possession of the St Aubyn family and a small village has grown up near the harbour. In 1811, there were fifty houses, eight of which were uninhabited. By 1820 the little town of St Michael had two or three small Inns, and about seventy dwellings.

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 8

This is taken atop the castle of the entire community below. It's a wonderful view of the causeway, which connects the island to that of mainland UK, also visible is the harbour and homes of the few families living on the island.

The harbourside village at St. Michael’s Mount has been home to an island community for centuries. The population swelled to around 300 towards the middle of the 19th century, during the harbour’s heyday as a busy port. Although the harbour is now predominantly used by pleasure boats, the village still houses a number of people whose lives are very much linked to the island. The row of picturesque cottages that lines the harbour area is occupied by the island’s boatmen, guides, gardeners and other staff members and their families, creating a community of about 30 in all.

St. Michael’s Mount lives and breathes history!

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 7

This is the entrance to inside the castle. Out of respect to the family that lives in the castle, no one is allowed to take photographs inside. But, I found it pretty cool to be walking around an 18th century castle, that was still being habited.

At the top of these steps, you find yourself in a moderate sized entrance hall, followed by room after room filled with such magnificent history. The church, which is the oldest building on the island, looked exactly as one might imagine it would have looked all those hundreds of years ago. Behind the altar in the church are three alabaster panels, each one over 500 years old, depicting religious events of huge significance. Made in Nottingham in the fifteenth century, it is still unknown how or when they came to be at St Michael’s Mount.

Anyone coming to visit Cornwall, should make it a point to visit this island, as it is well worth it!

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 6a & 6b

Taken from up on the castle, is a picture of the exotic garden clinging to a near-vertical granite rock face above the sea. However the warm Gulf Stream along with the heat-retentive granite walls and bedrock, enable a wide variety of tender and exotic plants to be grown in the South-facing gardens. It has walks and terraces planted with windswept but often subtropical plants.

The gardens range from sweeping avenues to the formal terraced gardens first planted in the 1780s.

The gardens are such a breathtaking view, I decided to post 2 photos!

I'd like to share a quote from one of my favorite authors, Charles Dickens, "The rich, sweet smell of the hayricks rose to his chamber window; the hundred perfumes of the little flower-garden beneath scented the air around; the deep-green meadows shone in the morning dew that glistened on every leaf as it trembled in the gentle air: and the birds sang as if every sparkling drop were a fountain of inspiration to them."
~ The Pickwick Papers

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 5

I would like to dedicate this post to Mrs. Joan Wesley, a French (Brittany) native and Cornish local for more than 45 years!!!

Thank you for your kinds words and support!

Molly =)

Today's post continues from the view of yesterday's post. The cannons still holding its spot, even after the castle had been turned into a stately house.

Flying high is the Cornish flag!

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 4

Here are more ruins from the outside of the castle, as you walk up along the steep hill to where the castle is. From here we sneak in a small view of the mainland. Not sure what the ruins were for, but it presented a wonderful place for many of the visitors to stop and pose for photos!

Just after these ruins, we'll reach the area with cannons! I'll post that tomorrow...

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 3

To get up to where the castle is, you must walk up a very steep hill. Much of the path up is made of up of wonderful huge rock formations. I thought it was a nice shot of the mother and child walking up, with those huge boulders behind them!

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 2

Today, we see the a little bit of the local island community. On the island, there is a small community of locals that reside there, so we see here, a few of the houses and the ticket office further down the cobblestone road.

St. Michael's Mount Series - Photo 1

To DeathSweep,
This series of photos are dedicated to you!
Thanks for your daily visits,
Ice_Molly!

Last week, missed posting as I was up in London to watch the Wimbledon Championships...

Over the next several days, I'll be posting photos of a popular site in Cornwall, St. Michael's Mount. Previously, I have posted scenic photos of this castle on an island, now I'd like to give you a short tour of the island.

St. Michael's Mount, is a rocky island, crowned by a medieval castle and church. It's been home to the St. Aubyn family for 300 years, where they currently reside.

Today's photo is a view of the castle. St. Michael's mount is an odd mix of house, religious retreat, and fortified castle. It was a pilgrimage centre in the Middle Ages, converted first to a fortress, then to a house after the Civil War.

~in 1135 AD, the church was built by Abbot Bernard of Mont St. Michel and consecrated by Bishop of Exeter in 1144. Then in 1193 AD, the priory was seized by Henry de la Pomeray with his men disguised as pilgrims. The castle begins build and De la Pomeray dies by his own hand in fear of the consequences when Richard the Lionheart returns from the crusades.~

Visiting Hayle

Today's post is dedicated to Al and Zeny,

whom visited Hayle, all the way from Honolulu, Hawaii!

We hope they enjoyed their time in Cornwall!

'The Colour Red'

Saint Paul (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - New York City (NY), USA - Tel Aviv, Israel - Hyde, UK - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Stockholm, Sweden - Paderborn, Germany - Singapore, Singapore - Haninge, Sweden - Nottingham, UK - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Manila, Philippines - Boston (MA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Singapore, Singapore - Joplin (MO), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Paris, France - Sequim (WA), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Boston (MA), USA - Chennai, India - Madison (WI), USA - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Toulouse, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - La Antigua, Guatemala - Selma (AL), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands

Natural Beauty

Rocky path ahead
Treading lightly on soft sand
Distant house of light

"Today is going to be a good day..."~ice_molly

A Piece of Land's End...

Land's End is one of the most popular outdoor attractions in Cornwall
and a 20 minute drive from Hayle. It is situated on the westerly most point of mainland Britain and is surrounded by some of the most spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, and also, breathtaking scenery. Also famous for its "End to Enders",
you can hear the extraordinary tales of the people who have traveled from
Land's End to John o'Groats (the northerly most point of mainland Britain).
The distance from one to the other totaling 874 miles.

See more info here on, Walking Land's End to John o'Groats, with Mark Moxon

Sheep Territory!

During an interim of the current bout of rainstorms,
I took the dog out for a country walk
and came across these two onlookers!

Looks like Snow and Ice!

Following my latest obsession of classic literature, here is something from The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft, by ~George Gissing

"For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every sky has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously."

Rocks upon the shore...

I stumbled upon these rocks, while out walking my dog on Mexico Towans Beach. I'm assuming the cliffs got some good pounding from the latest rush of rainstorms and scattered all through the beach were various rocks, with a huge percentage of it being granite. The scattered rocks were such a lovely sight to see!!

Today, I'd like to share a piece from William Makepeace Thackeray,

"To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it; to go through intrigue spotless; and to forgo even ambition when the end is gained--who can say this is not greatness..."

~The Virginians

Out of the Storm...

After days of constant rainstorm, the sun finally had its moment and the rest of the day... Wednesday, we are expecting thunder & lightning - hopefully tomorrow we'll see the sun shining before more of the rainstorm!

~It's been a busy last few weeks, but I hope to resume postings this week~

The following is from a classic, a personal favorite, 'Nicholas Nickleby' ~by Charles Dickens:
"If our affections be tried, our affections are our consolation and comfort; and memory, however sad, is the best and purest link between this world and a better."

White Wash...

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”

Inspire...

HAVE FUN
DIG DEEP
STRETCH
DREAM BIG

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Clouds of Love

"Floating together through the open sky...
Flowing with the rhythm of the sea...
Love, a constant beacon"

Looking Out...

In participation of the June Theme Day: A View From My Bedroom Window - Here's Looking Out...!

Please enjoy... and explore other cities, participating in the Theme Day Blog!

Seattle (WA), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Toruń, Poland - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Madison (WI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Omaha (NE), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stockholm, Sweden - Grenoble, France - Lubbock (TX), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Hyde, UK - Joplin (MO), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Kansas City (MO), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Manila, Philippines - Sydney, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - London, UK - Chandler (AZ), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Singapore, Singapore - Hamburg, Germany - Sydney, Australia - Tenerife, Spain - Moscow, Russia - Lyon, France - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Evry, France - Hayle, UK - Mumbai, India - Kitakami, Japan - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - La Antigua, Guatemala - Paderborn, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Madrid, Spain - Lyon, France - Selma (AL), USA - Shanghai, China - Baziège, France - Cologne (NRW), Germany - North Bay (ON), Canada - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Stayton (OR), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Hong Kong, China - Trier, Germany - Joensuu, Finland - Paris, France - Greenville (SC), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Cork, Ireland - Bastia, France - Vancouver, Canada - Brookville (OH), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Mainz, Germany - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Zurich, Switzerland - Torino, Italy - Montréal (QC), Canada

Sat up against the side of a cliff...

“This severe, ascetic music, calm and horizontal as the line of the ocean, monotonous by virtue of its serenity, anti-sensuous, and yet so intense in its contemplativeness that it verges sometimes on ecstasy”

For you and the ocean you love so well...

“I shall go the way of the open sea,
To the lands I knew before you came,
And the cool ocean breezes shall blow from me,
The memory of your name”

~Laurence Hope

Looking Out From Godrevy Cliffs

There is nothing noble in being superior to some other man.
The true nobility is being superior to your previous self.
Hindu Proverb

Sunset Over Gwinear

This is the sunset over Gwinear Parish, taken last night, while out walking Molokini, our dog.

“Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
but to add color to my sunset sky"

- Rabindranath Tagore

St. Gothian Sands Nature Reserve

This is one of the pools at St. Gothian sands. It's now a nature reserve and coming on nicely too. But in it's last life it was used for commercial sand extraction, which is basically digging out thousands upon thousands of tonne of sand from a beautiful area and selling it to other areas to give them a beach, and many other pointless uses.

By doing this they alter the structure of the dunes and beaches for a long time to come.

Thankfully this practice has stopped here and it has been turned into a reserve. This practice has also gone on at the Hayle estuary and has only recently stopped (2004) but is always in threat of restarting. There is a local action group called SOS Hayle and they are looking to stop these practices forever and revert back to the the old way of clearing the estuary which involves using a sluicing method of clearing the estuary which has served the area for more than a hundred years. If you want more detailed information click on one of the links from this page.

Too Cold for me...

This was taken a few months ago... waters were about 8 degrees C - too cold for me.

So, I sat on some rocks and took pictures...

A Quiet Scene...

Since Cornwall is bordered by the ocean at 3 out of 4 corners, it isn't much of a wonder why so many Britons holiday here in the summer. It's the only part of Britain with a subtropical climate.

Yesterday evening, I took my dog for a walk on the harbour of St. Ives - the tide was going out. Still rather a quiet scene, residents were probably having their dinner and others heading home from work, we were joined by just a few other dogs and their owners. You could smell the fish aroma coming from boats that were docked and the salty sea air... close your eyes and you can hear the seagulls flying above your head!

In a few short weeks, summer will have officially arrived, and this quiet scene is yielded to the visiting crowds!

Canine Hydrotherapy?

When there's been plenty of rainfall, the sand dunes at Gwithian provide wonderful, gigantic pools of water throughout the dunes. Large enough, that we get to take our collie, Molokini, for a swim.

Getting out of the pool at the other end, were 2 huge Alsation (German Shepherd) dogs. Their session was over, as their owner whistled for them to get out of the water, and unfortunately, Molokini had to do without playmates.

Just over these dunes is Gwithian beach. No dogs allowed, 1 April - 1 October!

Secret Surf Cove...

The best places to surf, are the secret spots. Here is a good secret surf cove, which my husband likes to frequent - when the wind is in a certain direction, coupled with the right swell and a particular state of tide. This cove spot, can generate one of the best waves around - with none of the usual crowds!

Obviously, the hard part is getting down to it, barefoot, with your board + a camera ;-)

Low Tide...

This was taken last summer. It was the end of day, as the crowds began to leave. Few stragglers about, and I just sat and watched. The sea went calm, as the tide began to head back to sea.

A moody seaview...

Sheep Resting

"In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must,
above all, be a sheep".

Albert Einstein

An Early Summer's Bloom

Even on the gloomiest of days,
beauty can still be found everywhere you look!

Observing with a quiet mind...

You are my beacon, my lighthouse

Sometimes life is as rough as the uncaring sea
It causes panic, frustration, and despair
But you are there for me
A quiet entity on the edge of a rugged cliff.


(The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes~ Marcel Proust)

Misty Setting

I was lucky enough to catch this misty sunset,
as the days continue to bring mostly clouds and rain.
This shot was taken from the village of Angarrack,
just a few miles outside of the town of Hayle.

A respite from the storm

There was a small amount of surf today, about waist high with the occasional bigger set coming through. The weather hasn't been good recently, it's been rainy and very windy. The wind switched today though to off shore and the sun even came out, well almost. So there was an abundance of people in the water for this time of the year. In a few months time there will be as many as 200 people in the water all trying to get a few waves.

Spring Gardens

Warm, afternoon rays
Upon the lush greenery
Blooming white lilies

I like the spring... when the weather allows - you'll see everyone out, tending their gardens.
This is just one of the gardens you'd find, if you took a walk around our little village.

Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Rum

We came across this boat the other day whilst out walking. As you can see it's a really nice boat. What's slightly bizarre though, It doesn't look at all out of place where it is. After you get over the initial "Look at that" it just kind of blends in and has a beauty of it's own, even though it's out of it's natural environment.

Moon's Reflection

Dark skies and silence
Moon, shone as bright as the Sun
Waves lapping lightly

Recycle

I love what has been done with this particular piece of agricultural equipment. It seems a nice usage of something that would otherwise now be defunct. This particular one is made from granite, a beautiful material which is used all over Cornwall because it is in abundance.

A little quiz for you all:-
Although this is a very nice looking water feature now, what did it spend it's working life as ?

Have a wonderful Day

Hayle Regeneration!

Hayle Harbour is operated under the Hayle Harbour Act by Hayle Harbour Company Ltd., and is primarily a shellfish port. In addition, winter berthing is provided for the St. Ives fishing fleet.

At present, the flood tide flows through the harbour entrance channel and divides at Middle Weir to continue westwards into Lelant Water and Eastwards into the main harbour area, and Copperhouse Pool and Carnsew Pool. On the ebb tide, waters evacuate the harbour at a rate governed by the offshore tidal level and constraints imposed by the outer sand bar and fixed sluice openings. At the centre of the harbour is a man-made structure (Cockle Bank) forming two channels for water draining from Copperhouse Pool and Carnsew Pool.

A number of the quay walls are listed structures, but many have fallen into disrepair, showing a range of structural defects that require remediation.

The Regeneration of Hayle, relies heavily on the new Harbour Development.

The current scheme will provide chances for the growth of the harbour uses as well as a range of activities to complement the life of the town. Based on a program that could span a period of some ten years, the organic growth of the existing settlement will be positively influenced. The elements of the proposal, which is the Masterplan agreed by the Consultative Group, have been arrived at through consultation throughout the design process. These are:

• Removal of Cockle Bank and construction of a tidal cill, impounding the harbour area at a minimum half tide level and creating 15 hectares (36 acres) of permanent deep water.
• The installation of a new sluice from Carnsew Pool into Lelant Water. This will close the existing sluice into the harbour.
• No change to the present tidal regime in Copperhouse Pool.
• The remediation of over 40 hectares (100 acres) of harbour land.
• An integrated transport strategy.
• The creation of two new road junctions to serve the site and integrate traffic movements with the town.
• The building of a new two-way road bridge between East and North Quays, with full pedestrian access.
• The improvement of harbour facilities including a new dedicated area for the fishing fleet, retention of commercial handling facilities and increase in available moorings.
• The reclamation of part of Carnsew Pool within previously agreed limits.
• The repair, refurbishment or renovation of harbour walls.
• The developments of a mixed use scheme with each quay.

The new Harbour plans would provide:

1. Up to 1530 new jobs safeguarded or created over the programme.
2. Up to 240 new construction jobs over the programme.
3. 400 new homes (100 affordable/low cost).
4. 261,000 sq. ft of cultural/leisure buildings.
5. 205,000 sq. ft of retail space.
6. 485,000 sq. ft of mixed use space (commercial/retail).
7. Projected £100 million of Private Sector investment.

Before Sunset!

Trains... They're such a wonderful way to travel cross-country! The people you meet and the places you see engage you in life!

If you've ever seen the movies "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset", you might agree! I suppose it's really just the simple possibility that something like this could actually happen, which makes it so exciting and romantic.

Is there 'someone' who lingers in your memory - someone who makes you wonder what might have been?...

Or, if you're already with that 'someone', what's your love story?

Synchronisation!

Hello everybody!

This photo was taken at a local show held yesterday called the Gwinear Show. It happens every year on the first Saturday of May. There are various different horse events, a companion dog show, local crafts competitions, floral art, photography, art, plants, wine, licensed bar and refreshments and things to keep children occupied (like rides and bouncy castles.)

There were many horse events... this one pictured, was a 'heavy horse dress event', all the horses in this event were Shire horses - often used as working horses. Here you can see the horse has been decorated with ribbons tied in its mane and tail. Sometimes they decorate the horse in it's full gear, with all sorts of horse brasses. It's all very elegant! Some other events that we managed to catch were the 'driving competition' and the 'mounting events'.

We particularly liked this gentleman, as he did the walk with synchronicity to his horse!

A Surf Report

Nought to Flat... so basically Nadda Surf!



So, obviously nought, flat and nadda all mean the same - Zero/Nothing! With the start of Bank Holiday Weekend, today the beach was reasonably busy. Families were out, couples were having little BBQ's, and despite the poor surf conditions - there was a surf school out teaching the little ones, as well as, some regular surfers, who were out lookin' to just get their boards wet...

From atop a cliff, I spied two young boys, whom abandoned their surfboards and decided to meander along the rocks...

...just because there's no surf, doesn't mean there isn't anything to do!

“Let your thoughts meander towards a sea of ideas.”

Ebb and Flow!

Consider the ebb and flow of the tide. When waves come to strike the shore, they crest and fall, creating a sound. Your breath following the same pattern, absorbing the entire universe with each inhalation. Know that we all have access to four treasures: the energy of the sun and moon, the breath of heaven, the breath of earth, and the ebb and flow of the tide.

The Art of Peace...