Escape to the Lizard in the Bongo

I am the Birthday Girl this week, so Don and I took off in the Bongo for a couple of days to the Lizard, Cornwall, before I really get into exhibition mode.

The Bongo ( our bijoux camping van)  has taken us to the most secret glorious spots all over Cornwall in the last 5 years, but The Lizard area is probably the furthest distance across Cornwall from Bude and there was a campsite I have wanted to stay at for a couple of years. Henrys Campsite.  It’s logo is “strange, but wonderful”.  I think I would change that to ” an oasis of quirky happiness”.  Tucked down a track off the Lizard village, you cannot help but smile as you arrive.  Wooden sculptures of seagulls, colourful buoys and tropical plants surround the small buildings that make up the tiny shop, homely reception and unisex bang bang showers and toilets.

Escorted to our pitch, we were greeted by a family of ducks.The view of the sea was breathtaking.  Mind you, we had arrived on the most glorious May day.  Most pitches are contained within cornish stone walls with tropical and wild planting.

 

 

There were so many quirky areas. I loved the tractor seat, coffee table area.  Sit on one if you ever get the chance; although solid metal, they are the most comfy of seats.  We couldn’t quite work out why the boat was above the shower block, but why not!

sea pinks, lichen and pure air

The cove from Henry’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the years I have seen most of Cornwall, but with 300 miles of coastline, there will always be new places to explore.  From the campsite, we could walk to the coast path and over the cliffs to Kynance Cove.   The tide was high, so after scrambling over and under rocks, we managed to get to the cafe and sit on the bank admiring the shimmer on the sea.  The colour of the water here is azure, from green to turquoise. It is such a contrast to the North Coast where we live.  Although you don’t get the surf, it means that the sand is not disturbed and you can see right to the bottom.

We only stayed one night in the end.  The evenings are still chilly and our van is only really equipped for fair weather camping.  Henry’s do have a communal fire pit area though,  or you can hire your own fire basket with logs.

We only saw one sign.  It stated…

” Beware.. Signs have sharp edges!  We rely on people’s common sense”

No signs makes for a more relaxed vibe.

We will definately be back.  There is much to explore here from the wilderness of the most southerly point of the England, to the sheltered estuary of the Helford River.  I had to share this with you… but shh!! don’t tell too many people. It’s our secret.

And that is it’s charm.

www.henryscampsite.co.uk 

 

Wilma – my new surf heroine

At Port Eliot Festival this year I met my new heroine – Wilma Johnson.  Her bio describes her as an artist who moved to Biarritz France in her forties where she learns to surf and set up a surf school for older women. -” It might take you ten times longer and ten times as many bruises along the way, but anyone can learn to surf “

Wilma's Book - Surf Mama by Beautiful Books

Ok, Ok,,….. in my case it is going to take a lot of effort, but inspired I definately was.  For starters, her paintings are mainly beautiful bold self portraits, the sort of thing I have played with but have kept hidden in my painting journal, which come out on occasion when I have had one or two many glasses of wine!  I felt an instant connection with this woman. We are the same age, we paint, we have done the homemaker thing and love the sea.  This is probably where it ends.  I suspect she came from a “well-heeled” background that afforded her to make the move, but it has made me think that yes, I could do something and start by improving my swimming.  One thing her book “Surf Mama” does give you, is an insight into all the barriers and strife you might come across in your quest to master the wave, so that you can avoid making the same mistakes.  She also says she is not one of the Beautiful People that parade the beaches of the south of France, but she looked pretty hot, as you can see.

Wilma talking about Surfing at the Idler Academy, Port Eliot Festival

She made a grand entrance having paddled her longboard up the river and arrived dripping with the sheepskin coat just adding to the whole effect.  Effortless but very glamorous.  She spoke very eloquently about her life in a very modest way.  She was after all in the Idler Academy, where festival goers are taught how to step back from life a little, slow down, and live like a modern middle/upper class anarchist. So I am half way through the book and I can definately recommend it to anyone.  A very easy read in short punchy chapters, and will await the film in which she could probably have the starring role and play herself.

 

Roll on Port Eliot 2012

We have been back from the Port Eliot Festival for four days and are already looking forward to next year.   There is so much I could write about and so many photos I could post.  Someone said of Port Eliot that “if you asked 1000 people for a story of their experience of Port Eliot, you would get 1000 different stories”, and hereby lies the problem.  I can only say you need to go and experience this festival of ideas yourself.

Me and Don enjoying a Bloody Mary Elevensees

.  What sets it out from others is I suppose the mix of literary talks with the mix of music, cinema, food, fashion, comedy, cabaret and of course the beautiful setting, which allows all the different aspects to be laid on without really being aware of the any of the  rest of it.

Taking in the magnificence of the Round Room

One thing for sure is that it could be summed up as “London meets the Cornish”, where you see the “Beautiful people” strutting their stuff, the families whose children are called Tabitha, Henry, Hector and Aerial trying to organise themselves miserably alongside the often badly dressed cornish who always appear stouter and rounder and just love beer tent hopping. This of course is finding the extremes at both ends of the scale and in between there are the most lovely people who are genuinely there to soak up as much culture,and music as possible.  One of our favourite parts is “Caught by the River”, the inspiration of three music producers who also have a love of nature, their ethos summed up by the words “An antidote to indifference”  www.caughtbytheriver.net

Chris Yates, Jon Berry, John Andrews and Charles Rangley-Wilson talking Words on Water

My festival diary is written, full of memories of everything we saw, the chance meetings with new people, the inspiring talks we hear and the great music from Ahab, to banghra band RSVP, blues from Hat Fitz and Cara, theatre from Bellowhead, dance your heart out to Trance from The Egg and the mellow sound of Louis Eliot and many other great acoustic acts.  It really is a smorgasbord of creativity and inspiring thought, washed down with some good ale and great cocktails.

Suggs (Madness) at the Boogie Round , 2 a.m all singing "Lets go fly a kite"

Another post on my new heroine to follow very shortly!!

 

Off to Port Eliot Festival to feed mind, body and soul

For the third year, we are off in the Bongo for a four day festival at Port Eliot, St Germans.  It started as a literary festival, but has now grown into cornucopia of culture and music, with wild swimming, great bars and an amazing atmosphere which I can summarise as London meets the ‘Cornish.  www.porteliotfestival.com

I have already earmarked a cooking demo by Peter Gorton, wild swimming, a talk by Wilma Johnson on surfing at 50 at the Idler Academy, late night secret dancing, a printmaking workshop, and several bands and musicians, some known and others who just sound plain quirky or great.

I have treated myself to a new camera, so if all goes well, will post some of my best photos.

 

Confessions of a Fair Weather Camper

After some discussion and a look at the weather forecast, we decided at the last minute to have B & B for our two nights away and after finding a £295 hotel for £110, it didn’t take much to persaud either of this that this was the way to go.

Cornwall is a tale of two very contrasting coastlines and although there wasn’t the surf beaches we love, the south coast was definately warmer and more sheltered.  We stayed in Portloe on the Roseland Peninsula for a luxurious night and then had a night in Falmouth with cocktails and fish and chips.

Portloe on the Roseland Peninsula

The van did come in handy however for the odd cup of tea.

Tea at Loe Beach

We passed a little beach on the Fal estuary called Loe Beach and it was lovely.  I rang my Mum from there as it rang a bell with me as being a favourite spot of my parents and she was delighted to hear that the cafe shack was still there with its corrugated roof.  We hugged the coast road as much as possible down lanes barely wide enough to take the van, but could see the most amazing monied properties with private slipways.

Falmouth was a bit of mishmash of tired looking buildings and people, but also of wonderful eateries with seafood and a couple of great galleries from which I took inspiration. Our purpose of the trip was to visit an exhibition of my Art Hero Kurt Jackson and it didn’t disappoint.  Two enormous canvases of approx 10 ft by 8ft filled the walls alongside some of his own private collection.

Kurt's 10ft picture of Glasto festival

I could have stayed there all day if wasn’t for the luxury of B & B number 2 which was truly fab.

Definately think we spend too much effort scrimping on our hols with the van and its very basic amenities, but when we have more settled weather, the Lizard is the next stop and we will definately be using the Van.

 

Once you know how it’s easy

This is our favourite video for how to put our pop up tent away. We have to watch it several times before going just to refresh our minds which way up it has to be and which corners to fold in first. It may look simple, but there is definately a knack to it and this video is the best ! Informative instructional videos are the best thing about youtube.

 

The Lizard Peninsula beckons

After a week celebrating my husbands 60th birthday, culminating in a huge party last night and a day recovering, we are off in the Bongo tomorrow for a couple of days break.  We don’t do luxury, but love roughing it with the van in campsites that have little facilities but are in spectacular locations.  We have explored much of Cornwall over the last four years revisiting places I went as a child or we took our children when they were small, but also discovered new coves and beaches and walking some of the southwest coast path.

With this in mind, we are going to head for The Lizard, Great Britain’s most southerly land point which also remains quite wild and remote. Despite this, it is quite sheltered in parts and as the weather is still a little unsettled, am hoping  it might be a little oasis of warm sunshine.

I have to confess I have an ulterior  motive in heading in this direction as we can go via Falmouth and visit the Town Art Gallery where there is an exhibition celebrating the 50th birthday of landscape artist Kurt Jackson who has been my constant inspiration for some time and who I was lucky enough to meet on my 50th birthday last year.

My next post will tell you what it was like, hopefully with some accompanying photos.

 

 

Vintage Camper

The bongo ( our campervan) is due a spring spruce-up. Through the winter we always consider getting rid of it. Its a bit heavy on fuel! ….. But come this time of the year we are making plans for forays again.  Usually short trips around Cornwall.  Hubbie can only manage a few days roughing it. Over the past three years we have discovered quite a bit of hidden Cornwall ( yes, it is still out there), off the beaten track and often found  small very individual campsites which have only the  basic facilities but are often in the best locations. I came across this www.vintagecamper.co.uk   Although not all vintage, it has pulled the best from everywhere to create a capsule campers every need, along with some great little campsites. So its out the rubber gloves, the bongo beckons.