Those up early this morning were treated to the wonderful sight of National Geographic Explorer entering the narrow river that flows along the shores of Fowey (pronounced “Foy”). Narrow streets, ancient churches, shops selling ice-cream and quaint pubs dotted the quay of this quaint village. In addition to being a beautiful destination, Fowey is also known for its clay which is mined to for the production of flatware and other fine china.
Our day began with stretching followed by a hearty breakfast. Once fortified, we boarded the Zodiacs for the short trip to shore. Buses brought us through the narrow twisting streets and to the Eden Project. This is a fascinating center with biomes designed after both the Amazon and the Mediterranean. The trees, plants and birds all gave us the feeling we were in a vastly different part of the world. Some of the sculptures, like the giant bee and the robot made from recycled machine parts, were particularly memorable.
Most people returned to the ship for lunch and further adventures while a hearty group continued on to visit more gardens. After lunch, the group that returned to the ship split into two. The long walkers went up the steep hillside and followed a narrow track that returned them to the ship after a spirited hike with stunning views of the surrounding area. Jim & Karen took a leisurely hike that focused more on the ecology of the area and took time to work on their photography. This group then headed to town for continued stimulation of the economy and to savor the beauty of the day at some of the many cafés.
A small group continued on from the Eden Project to the Lost Gardens of Heligan. These spectacular gardens were interspersed with massive sculptures that brought the landscape to life. This was a memorable excursion.
We enjoyed our first recap before dinner when many of the lectures talked about fascinating aspects of the day that were worth sharing with the whole group. CT & Michael talked about photography and gave us some excellent ideas about how to tell a story through our images. David followed this by explaining the history of the various languages in this part of the world. Bill showed us how the flood control gates in the river Thames work and how the white granite we will find tomorrow was formed. Finally, Jacob played for us a brilliant collaborative song that blended Celtic and African music as we danced our way to yet another sumptuous dinner.
Despite the long day, all hands were on deck to watch as the captain skillfully maneuvered our ship out through the narrows and into the open water. The full moon lingered over the horizon as we turned west towards more adventures tomorrow at the Isles of Scilly.
