Fowey (pronounced Foy - as in Boy) harbour entrance is guarded by St. Saviour's chapel and Polruan Castle on either side and the River Fowey - or in Cornish, the 'river of Fow-wydh' or 'the river of beech trees' dates back to the 15th century, the town itself dating back to the 13th century. I try to imagine, when rambling around the tiny streets, folk from the 1200's walking the same paths that I now walk - it's quite a strange feeling and makes one feel quite humble and fairly unimportant in the scale of things! The sad fact is, most vacationers arrive in Cornwall and know (or care about), little of it's history or importance in the industrial revolution, but of course, the fact is, Cornwall was paramount in it's beginnings! I must admit though, were I stuck behind a counter or office desk for most of the year, green pastures, moors, beaches and surf would be at the forefront of my brain. Not history, unless on an historical trek through this wonderful county! However, here's a bit of history! Kenneth Grahame, he of "The Wind in The Willows" fame, spent much of his time in Fowey, even marrying in the town. His book was inspired by Fowey and the riversides up to Lerryn inspired the Wild Wood. Renowned for his love of boats, just like Ratty, it is no wonder that his love found its way into the pages of his most famous book. Sea-Rat's description, which begins... "...the little grey sea town I know so well, that clings along one steep side of the harbour. There through dark doorways you look down flights of stone steps, overhung by great pink tufts of valerian and ending in a patch of sparkling blue water." ...once read, never to be forgotten, especially when treading the paths of Fowey and looking down on Sea-Rat's description in real life. Some books one keeps forever, no matter how worn their covers or well thumbed their pages... ^=^ So there you go. That be Fowey, as they say down 'ere! And I love it! The image I took a couple of years ago during July, and which turned out to be one of the wettest on record, if I remember rightly. I walked the coastal path, always the best way to get there, and despite the weather, the town was awash with happy vacationers! Fowey has that effect on folk! It might be of interest to some that it's not unusual to see ocean liners entering Fowey Harbour through its narrow deep water entrance. I've seen a couple and they're really an amazing sight! Thank you for taking the time to look! ^=^