Frenchman's Creek

This afternoon I took some time out to meet a friend who was visiting my neck of the woods for the day. We took a hike over to the Helford River, and decided to walk around Frenchman's Creek which is perhaps best known as the title of the novel by Daphne du Maurier. At this time of year the creek and surrounding woodland was deserted, and the damp autumnal weather hung over the water like a cloak.


The water was a beautiful soft green, so still, reflecting the skeletal shapes of the bare trees lining the banks. If you just let your imagination drift.....you could vividly picture scenes from the novel:

" Frenchman's Creek is romance at its best. With all the mastery of atmosphere she used so triumphantly in Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier spirits the reader away to the days of the Restoration. Bored with the frivolous life of the Court the captivating, imperious Dona St Columb retires on a whim to her country estate in Cornwall, taking her children but leaving her dull husband in town. How she comes to be involved with a French philosopher-pirate, the terror of the Cornish coast, makes - because the author makes it credible - an absorbing tale of love and adventure."

It was hard to take any good photographs - for much of the walk we were looking down over the creek. I think the best perspective would have been from a small boat. The greyness lifted as the daylight faded, and we were treated to a beautiful sunset.



As I drove home I realized there had been nothing cristmassy about today at all....until I passed through town and for the first time saw all the christmas lights and decorations - a little reminder that I need to get cracking on that list of 'must dos'. 21 days and counting....