What one does just to find a swimming pool!

 Having looked long and hard to find something to do today, only 13 miles away was another NT house. I can almost hear the groans but hey ho, as members and wanting to get the most out of the membership, we headed off to Lanhydrock House and Gardens.

 As usual, I took loads of photos, and no doubt some of you in the past scrolled down to avoid them, so this time I have decided to put a link to my web album  and you now have the choice of whether you want to have a look or skip them completely. But don't think you will get away with not seeing any. Nop, I will put a few on here anyway.

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If you did click on the link you will see this was one of the best presented NT houses seen in a long time. The detail of furnishings in every room, and there were many, was second to none. A must-visit place if you are in the Bodmin area. Needless to say we enjoyed wandering around the rooms, all self-guided, although there were staff around if you wanted to ask questions. 

The grounds were vast with several good walks ranging from 1.5 miles to just over 4 miles. We decided to do the easy walk and find the swimming pool. My knee was giving me gyp today so nothing strenuous was on my mind. 

 

Looks a lovely and easy stroll

But I hadn't planned on Ian's reaction when he found our way blocked by a fallen tree. 

 

That's the way to go.

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Was there another way?

 His adventurous side came out and he was determined to find a route past, and the only way was by scrabbling over branches still attached to the trunk, as well as those scattered haphazardly over the ground. Crossing the trunk to avoid having to get one's feet wet as the brook ran underneath was a balancing act on my part, and then finding a route past all the mud and broken branches was also challenging. So much for my gentle walk of 1.5 miles!

The steps destroyed.

 

 I made it! phew

A  blooming great long hill to climb loomed ahead of us, the only way to get to a small field gate leading to yet another long incline before we finally found the pool! Was it worth it? Well actually yes. Although I struggled in places and that climb over the tree trunk challenged my balancing skills, I really enjoyed it.

Really steep and this was only half way! I'm taking a breather and looking back

Finally, the swimming pool

The hours walk turned into two and getting back to MB was a relief, more so because my knee was playing up something awful. Tablets taken to stop the pain and within 30 minutes we were back on the farm site. Tomorrow, the Lost Gardens of Helicon, our last planned excursion of this short holiday. On the way back to FS we will stop of for a night in Upton upon Severn to see Ian's brother, so tomorrow's post will be the last until we set off toward the Thames after Pie and Pea at Sandiacre lock cottages at the end of March. We also have the boat safety inspection to look forward to. Fingers crossed FS passes.

And wildlife,

Into the rainforest one minute and the Med next.

 Silence, most welcome after the last couple of nights. Not even the low of the cattle to disturb our slumber. It was cold though. We have a heater and being plugged into the electrics meant it could be switched on all night. One issue with that, the fan! Kept cutting in and out so in the end Ian switched it off, got out the extra blanket and we made do with that.

 As we overlooked the sea I had thought of waking early to catch the sunrise, but I missed it by oversleeping. Probably a good job I didn't set the alarm because when we did awake the skies were overcast and not the glorious start to the day forecasted. I really must stop relying on the weather channel. Nine times out of ten it's wrong! Anyway the Eden Project visit wasn't until 10 am so several cups of tea in bed later, the continuing horrible news of the Ukrainian people struggles watched on the Beeb, and we eventually got up.

 

Off to the Eden Project and it took less than 10 minutes to get there by road. What an excellent time to visit as only one of the numerous car parks were in use. It meant low visitor numbers, good as the chances of catching Covid was reduced. We managed to get a slot in the coach park, only 8 coaches booked in for today and one of the Eden workers said it would be okay. I wanted a photo looking down on the biodomes and the only way to do that was to trek back along the road to a spot with no trees, and I knew just the spot 'cos I had seen it as we drove down to the car park. Only trouble, Harris fencing obscured the view, so a bit of climbing was involved. Got the shot eventually and then discovered a much better photo opportunity later in the day. Never mind....it got my Fitbit steps up.

Taken from the road

This one looking as we entered through the visitor center.

And this view from a bridge crossing.

 

 Into the rainforest Biome first, my goodness the humidity was over 75 percent, the euphemism 'horses sweat, men perspire, but ladies merely glow' was so true but my 'glow' turned into rivers of water running from my brow! The cool room was closed probably due to Covid reasons and the only respite was the spray from crossing a small bridge which depicted clouds. Anyway here are the photos.

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And these strange boxes hung from the trees. I believe it's to do with what pests are in the biome.

The Mediterranean biome was a bit sparse after the rainforest and work was going on refurbishing the café. Pleasant enough to walk around after the heat of the rainforest, a comfortable 23 degrees but a slight disappointment with not much in the way of flowers. I expect next month the dome will be full of colour, we just arrived to early.

The surrounding gardens had plenty of Daffs, Hyacinths and early spring blooms plus this big bee structure made from wooden cladding.

 Took nearly four hours before we had seen everything including the Core building which housing an exhibition of invisible worlds and the visit didn't disappoint. Tomorrow's excursion is yet to be decided, the weather is for no rain so outdoor stuff, maybe. Let's hope this time the weathermen are correct!

And wildlife,

At the castle spring is in the air!

 Monday 14th

 Just before bed last night we heard the Owls, I rushed out with the torch, its quite powerful but not a glimpse of them was seen. The Tawney Owl with a ke-wick (female) and responding hoo hoo from the male, went on for for ages and then screeching was heard in the distance. The barn owl perhaps? Anyway I did find out later from the farmer that the Tawny, Barn and Little Owl all nest nearby.

This morning the bleating of lambs became our alarm clock although that Cockrell did a pretty decent job  competing with the noise. I was up early, those lambs sounded really close and I wanted to see how many had been born overnight. The farmer was already out checking, gosh he looked tired, well he would with just 2 hours sleep last night and hardly any the night before, but his mood was jolly and told me to go through the field gate and go meet the newborn. 

Have you noticed how strange those lambs looked? Yep they are all sporting the latest in newborn fashion, plastic macs! Then I saw a wonderful sight. This Ewe had given birth to three lambs and about 20 minutes before I arrived. Don't you just love this time of year?

 

Destination today St Austell. From this farm a mere 90-minute drive away, much to early for us to arrive at the campsite. With Powderham Castle about 5 miles from here, thought we may as well give it a visit, so tickets were booked, and a time slot arranged. 

First impressions as we drove into the grounds was most favourable. We had high hopes of good walks  and looking forward to wandering around the castle rooms. Click HERE for the history of the place. I warn you it's a long read!

Would you believe this place also had a deer park and after the disappointment of yesterday, a welcome surprise. Of course, they happened to be the furthest away from the castle and we couldn't walk through the park to them, but I did managed a few grainy photos anyway.

Fallow Deer

Shelducks

 

Wow the Castle inside was amazing. No photography so you can be pleased I have spared you a multitude of piccies. Room after room all beautifully kept and a good job arrows directed you from one to another because losing oneself was a definite possibility. The cost for this excellent tour was just £8 each (20% off for Heritage members) and I won't hesitate to recommend this as a worthwhile visit.

A half mile walk took us to a Secret Garden. Well what can I say about that garden? Wildfowl and small animals were on display mainly for the children to pet. But today children's questions would have had to be answered by the parents as quite a few of the critters were in the procreation stages! Spring has finally arrived!

She was not going to give in even though her feathers were being pulled out as he tried to stop her from getting away.

Even the tortoise were at it!

10 minutes walk further along the track and we found the American garden. Not sure why it was called that 'cos all we found was daffodils and rhododendrons. 

 

It was mid-afternoon so we decided to head back to MB. A 90-minute drive was ahead of us and we still had to find the camp site. Over the top of Dartmoor we drove seeing a few ponies near to the road. We may decide to stop on the way back later this week, all depends on what else we find to do. Anyway we did find the campsite. Yet another really small and narrow lane which led us through a farmyard. Had we made a wrong turn? Nop there at the end was the site and wow, overlooking the sea, the views were spectacular. This will now be home for the next 4 nights.

Tomorrow The Eden Project visit, we could walk to it being so close to this campsite . The only problem with that is the farmyard. Full of mud and other unmentionables I don't fancy traipsing through that lot. No, MB will have to be our packhorse and endure a good sponging down at the end of our visit.  

 

And wildlife today, the first Butterflies seen this month.