It was Monday 23 March 2020, the day before the UK entered its first national lockdown to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Wanting to record how life in Cornwall was changing, I set out with my GoPro to drive through the main towns and villages near where I live, just outside Penzance in West Cornwall.
Apart from the empty shelves in local supermarkets, this journey made the reality of the situation feel very real. It was clear that life was about to change dramatically. Freedoms would be restricted, and physical isolation would become part of everyday life until the virus could be brought under control. At the time, none of us knew how long it would last or what the lasting effects might be.
Normally on a beautiful day like this, these places would be packed with locals and holidaymakers enjoying the sunshine and everything we love about Cornwall. But as you will see from the video, the streets and seafronts were almost deserted. The silence and stillness felt surreal.
I did a circular drive through Marazion, Penzance, Newlyn, Mousehole and St Ives. I also parked briefly in St Ives and went for a short walk around the town, which you can see towards the end of the video.
I am writing this on day two of the official lockdown. For now, everyone in our household remains symptom free, and like everyone else, we are adjusting to this new way of life. I plan to post further videos when possible, whether on my bike during daily exercise or on essential trips to the supermarket.
Keep safe.
