My next two walks are directly along the River Tamar, the border between Cornwall and Devon. I am planning to Kayak large sections of these walks along the Tamar river and capture something of these important riverine places which have geographical, symbolic and anthropological significance…
In preparation I decided to Kayak to Harbour Church this morning, taking advantage of the extra hours sleep, and the full moon high tide, which gently rises to the road outside the little gatehouse where I live
I collect the soil in my boots as I walk so I thought I would ‘trawl’ for submarine treasures as I kayaked along but I only had a perforated plastic bag… I quickly realised that this acts as a big brake on my movement through the water so abandoned the idea until I can get a suitable fishing net.
I am interested in the sounds of the landscape above and below the water so I dipped my gopro into the water but all one can hear is the kayak warbling through the water and my paddles going rhythmically… next time I should maybe sink the gopro (which annoyingly wanted to float on the surface) to get some real seafloor action.
https://vimeo.com/user88454136/review/297590486/001429e41b
It did get pretty scary at a couple of points as I had not factored in a stiff North Easterly breeze which built over the expanse of the Carrick roads and chopped the water up into big crests which battered my bowside enough to make me nervous about carrying on around the headland.
I grounded at one point when the strong wind and waves pushed me on to the shallow rocks and I had to bail out and push off into the open water again but it was only a brief delay and with the tide still going out and the wind increasingly behind me I made great progress beating walkers who were on a Sunday morning stroll around Trefusis point!
I was glad to arrive at David and Judith Eastburn’s who kindly let me moor at their little beach in Flushing and I was wet but satisfied with the journey and my experimental outcomes:
I can fit the violin, rucksack and artboard on the sit on kayak (double)
I did some underwater sound and vision recording
I negotiated some tricky estuary and open water conditions successfully
I collected some beach stones to grind up for artboard pigments
Keep watching as I continue to explore art in place…
From one range to another I walked.
Looking back towards Looe I caught the golf strike moment 🙂 Below, Whitsand bay stretches out to Rame Head in the distance before Plymouth Sound.
The water was still, clear and inviting. 
The fields were full of colour and life like this Marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea) above and I try and follow the random flutter by movements with my pencil (below) 
All this beauty Juxtaposed against Tregantle fort and its brutal raison d etre. Little observation huts are dotted around. 
I relished walking into the ‘danger area’ but the red flags were down on the numerous poles. 
Built to deter French attack in the mid 19th century, the imposing battery is still used for Royal Navy training but some of the buildings are now also used for accommodation and the army use the surrounding area as a firing range. 
Willowherb (purple) and meadowsweet (cream white) combine stunningly against the blue sea. 
The very popular coves and Whitsand bay are looked on by the RNLI. 
And just below the RNLI hut was where the Navy man by the name of ‘Lugger’ dug his cave with a view and apparently recovered from an illness of gout. 
The nearby village of Freathy has holiday homes galore just on the edge of spectacular creekside hills and valleys. Perfect for scouting deer that I stumbled upon leaping and playing now in the distance, also enjoying the weather. 
Sunrise over Saltash and the Tamar estuary.
This sheep poo was the first mark on the artboard.
Strange woodland forms now occupy the area.
As well as the underrated stinking Iris- Iris foetidissima – good for deep shade spots.
A secret path leads down to the secluded naturist beach and shag rock… Hmm…
Fresh green sprigs of Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum makes a tasty marine garnish to avocado crackers with a touch of sea salt! 
And we head off with Whitsand Bay in the distance. (note the Sea Kale*)
3 weeks ago Sea thrift dominated the ground coverage (below)
And the coastal path is dotted with wanderers.
In funnily named Portwrinkle we meet a genuine Wild Forager who teaches us how to cook Sea Kale!*
But the doves and pigeons have the best house of all up on the golf course outside Crafthole, complete with state of the art oculus skylight (below)
And the delightful little village of Crafthole has local volunteers selling everything you need for community life. 
Drawing 2 (completed yesterday)
I tried to capture some of the colours through the found objects
And through my violin.
Devils Coach Beetle – Ocypus olens – Chris Bass?
I had to pinch myself. Its so intensely beautiful. Beyond description.
The trigpoint has a crayon ‘Where’s Wally’ monument behind it (AKA the St Martins Daymark, built in 1683 and the earliest surviving navigational beacon in UK) 
Verges near the 3 little hamlets have bulbous escapees from the famous bulb industry like this red Amarylis belladonna lily.
There is one road.
And only 8 or 9 original islanders left, according to Mr Ashford (below)
No shortage of Echiums
And pretty cottages bursting with botanical beauties.
There are 2 ferry’s a day back to St Mary’s.
And I joined Lawrence once more, a St Ives potter and gig rower who helped rescue my map case which blew into the sea and shared his delicious salted foccacia bread with me 🙂 
