Bowl a maiden over

Like father, like son....

In the Bissoe area is a series of geocaches titled "Bowl a maiden over...". This is a seven stage cache around old mine workings. The track is supposed to be around 3 miles long but I think we did at least triple that covering the area. Admittedly we took a couple of wrong turns. Or rather, we took the right turns, went a little way along, convinced ourselves we were wrong and turned back. Only to go the wrong way, then realise we were right the first time, and then have to completely retrace our steps.... If that all sounds confusing then it accurately reflects our confusion over which paths to take on the day. Well actually it took a day and a half...

It is hard to get a grip on  how much mining was done in this small area, first for copper then for tin. It has had a massive effect on the landscape







This sign was part of our downful. We don't  go to places which say no public access- reasoning that it might be dangerous etc. However if you read down this sign the small print says except on certain paths. Trouble is we only read the large print from a distance and convinced ourselves this could not be the intended path... We then headed back looking for another path, and of course this was the one we were meant to be on all along!

We saw several mine shafts covered by safety metal grid cones. You couldn't see the bottom in most, they must have been quite deep.

There were others that looked like doors in the cliff face. We could look inside and till see all the wooden props. The miners must have had to stoop horribly to go in- even I would have to bend and I'm not that tall.

My favourites are the engine and wheel houses and stacks. They are so typically Cornish. You wouldn't see anything like it elsewhere in England.

















This series of caches took us to one after another, after another...














The engine houses vary widely in their condition, this one looking very fragile now.

John 

 Others were still standing tall, reflecting the strong and sturdy construction methods used to build them.

 Sean rushed to the walkway to get into this photo  as we wouldn't let him climb into the engine house like his dad

Sean was a little jealous of the offroad bikers using the huge pit as a playground.

Where the land is wet it is very lush looking, though the rivers run red due to the minerals in the water.

It feels like quite a privilege to have such wonderful heritage/history on our doorstep. We were really glad that geocaching took us here- we would never have found this place without it.

Until next time

Gillian