We first met Caroline and Charles from Caris in Angra do Heroismo on Terceira in the Azores. After a few very poor, bordering on terrible, nights in that rolly anchorage, we both sought shelter in the local marina – they came by to introduce themselves, and probably also to have someone to commiserate with.
As often happens with new people we meet sailing, we ended up getting along really well. And Caroline and Charles also happen to be British, so their trip home brought them to the Falmouth area at the same time we were passing through. Perfect timing for a rendezvous! This time, instead of rolling around in the Atlantic swell in the Azores, both Caris and Madrone were tucked into the flat water of the Helford River, well-protected from the prevailing southwesterly winds.
The Helford is technically a drowned river valley – similar in geology and formation to the Spanish Rias. And just like those beautiful inlets, the Helford is fabulous. Forested hills tumble gently to the waters edge, with the occasional English manor dotting a hillcrest.
Making a beautiful spot even better was getting to spend a bit more time with the crew of Caris. Calling Charles an avid fisherman is an understatement, and he’d picked the location within the anchorage because it was close to a secret spot for scallops. He dove down (without scuba assist), collected a dozen fresh scallops, and then showed us how to clean them. He and Caroline then prepared the scallops on the grill, along with a couple of fresh mackerel that he’d caught on the sail over from Falmouth.
Good times with good friends in a beautiful spot. Lucky us!
