Becoming used to dull mornings, fine afternoons and rainy nights - the Crimean
weather pattern. Couldn’t allow an injury to stop the explorations, so DrRob
wrapped the offending ankle very professionally. Waked through remarkably well
preserved Taurine Chersonesos - ruins of Ancient Greek polis (5thC) and St Vladimirs
Church and small museum. And, of course, when we came across them, we had to ensure we let the sleeping dogs lie....
At Balaklava drove through canyon famed for Charge of Light Brigade (now full of vineyards
and wildflowers) whilst GirlRob read aloud Tennyson’s poignant poem....
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred
At the memorial met
some affable informative Poms, history buffs, who expanded the story, and
argued about the position of the gun emplacements.
Toured old submarine base, impressive to go underground and see all the water tunnels 8 mts deep plus dry docks underground, the old borer used to mine out tunnels, as well as “the con”, periscope tower, models, bombs, monuments. Its probably the only old base in world fully open to the public.
Fleetingly glimpsed monument celebrating Defence of Sevastopol (1854-55). Everywhere are signs of old Russian heavy military presence. With its narrow deep water ports, Crimean coast is strategically very well protected by water and even air with all limestone cliffs, caves and deep protected valleys.
A brisk breeze came up in arvo, as we made our way back to pine tree reserve camp above Sevastopol port. BoyRob cooked tuna pasta, GirlRob did hand washing, fortunately mostly socks n jocks, hung out in breeze, at least not still dripping by time had to be brought inside to hang before lights out.
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