With Libby safely installed in her halls at Leeds University it was time for me to return to Cornwall for the last couple of weeks of my sojourn. As I had driven mum and dad back in their car I had various options for getting back to The Lizard. I decided on The Night Riviera to Penzance at a treat. It leaves just before midnight from Paddington but you can arrive any time after 10.30pm and use the first class lounge which I duly did. I was quite excited so I boarded the train about half-an-hour before departure.
After finding my cabin and dumping my suitcase I headed straight for the sleeper lounge for a glass of wine.
For some reason the train gets into Penzance an hour later on a Monday at 8.59am but as it was already getting on for 1.00am I decided to head for my cabin and my cosy bunk:
It was so lovely lying there listening to the clickety-clack of the train. The only time I woke up was when we spent ages, and I mean ages, at Exeter Station. The only slight let-down was breakfast. It wasn't served on time and they had run out of croissants (despite having pre-ordered). I know that sounds a bit picky but it is meant to be an upmarket service. It was a pretty dismal morning but it was still fun, sitting there eating breakfast in bed, with the scenery flashing by me. Note to self - next time, if there is a next time, reserve a cabin in a carriage with coast facing windows.
Spot on time we pulled into Penzance Station where my bonkers taxi driver picked me up and drove me safely back to The Lighthouse.
I made myself a nice cup and tea and decided I really needed to go to Sainsbury's. There was another reason for wanting to drive back down the Lizard super highway and that was because I'd seen one of these:
And where there's one of those you will find a Poldark location and possibly himself. Himself was not there, however, the gorgeous Eleanor Tomkinson, alias Demelza was, who was just finishing shooting a scene outside Captain Blamey's house, up on the cliffs above Gunwalloe.
She walked passed me on the cliff path but there is absolutely no option to take pics or get autographs this time round. People do of course and it's not the fans the BBC is concerned about. It's the paparazzi as ever. It was a nice detour and I drove down to Sainsbury's thinking yet again what a lucky bunny I am to be having this adventure. Love from The Lizard Girl
Friday dawned a little grey but not cold so we set off to explore the most westerly part of Cornwall; Newyln, Mousehole and the Minack. We enjoyed Newlyn: Very unpretentious fishing port. Once we'd wandered down the quayside and had a look in the gift shop windows we went into the Newlyn Gallery for morning tea/coffee and cake looking out over a rather damp coastline.
Then it was off to Mousehole. I only visited a few weeks ago but was sure that mum and dad would like it. And they did. We enjoyed wandering around the tiny little streets and into the shops and galleries. Cornwall has a prolific selection of lovely things to buy and we particularly liked one shop where mum and dad bought a bowl and I bought, well dad bought, a bracelet of blue and opaque recycled beads.
We had lunch at The Ship Inn on the harbourside. A really delicious lunch and a chance for mum to have crab again, while dad and I opted for scampi and chips. In stark contrast to yesterday, we were served by Mel, the landlady, who couldn't have been friendlier or kinder or more attentive to our needs.
Our last stop of the day was The Minack Theatre. Even though it was trying to rain it was spectacular. Well, it was so many things; spectacular, beautiful, simple, awe inspiring, dramatic. And all the vision of one genteel lady, Rowena Cade, who was looking for a location for her am/dram production of The Tempest back in 1932. It has been evolving ever since. The seats are re-turfed every year. Not sure why they are turfed; we thought they might get a little damp.
Looking down at the stage with Porthcurno beach to one side. See the couple in the rain jackets on the balcony? We had met them the day before at Kynance! A really nice young German couple who asked us to take their picture up on the cliffs above the Cove.
A rather grey Porthcurno. Just a few days later Ross and Demelza were wandering across the sands in similar weather filming series two of Poldark.
We really enjoyed the whole experience. Both walking round the open air theatre and enjoying the comprehensive, professional exhibition. Looking forward to returning, hopefully next year, to see a production. Apart from a minor distraction when I nearly crashed the car into a tractor while singing and dancing to YMCA down a narrow country lane, we got home safely for tea. On the fourth and final day of mum and dad's visit we headed to St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula via the King Harry ferry which is a delightful way to travel.
We liked St Mawes: It had a nice feel about it. We enjoyed a walk through the village and up the hill to the castle which, being Cornwall, is closed on a Saturday (handover day)...
... and then wandered back again with lunch in a cafe by the harbour listening to the klaxon sending sailing boats off on some sort of very complicated race circuit.
We retraced our steps as far as RNAS Culdrose and then turned left for Helford where we enjoyed an ice-cream and a walk down to the jetty, where you hail a ferry by folding out a sign with a batman symbol on it to catch the ferryman's eye over at Helford Passage! And then home for delicious local fish and chips - best ever we all agreed. Before packing up and heading up country in a vain attempt for me to get Libby ready for university. I always optimistically think these things are going to be a lot more fun than they are!! Love from The Lizard Girl
Mum and dad came down to stay and this time we were blessed with much better weather. After a pasty lunch we went on the Lizard Lighthouse tour. Having lived next door to the Lighthouse for the last six months I really felt it was time to look around it. The exhibits were really interesting although I already knew quite a lot about my home it was good to find out more. And then we went up the lighthouse tower - my house is beneath the second visible chimney along and the part sticking out is my kitchen/diner and bathroom.
Then we walked to Housel Bay Hotel for cream tea and we fortunate enough to sit on the terrace enjoying the glorious afternoon sun.
Top of my list for the next morning was Kynance Cove. Last time mum and dad were here over the Spring Bank Holiday it was so windy we couldn't even stand up as we walked to the cliffs from the car-park and had to give up.
We got there for low tide and were surprised how busy it was at 10.30am. We had a nice cup of tea and flapjack and then moved on to Penrose.
We had a lovely walk past Loe Pool to Loe Bar and then mum and dad carried on along the coastal path to Porthleven whilst I returned to the car and joined them at The Twisted Currant for lunch. Oddly the service was bad, or rather just non-existent, as though our waitress (the owner's daughter) had lost the power of speech. However, lunch was delicious and mum had her first crab sandwich of the holiday, as did dad. Then out onto the sunny harbourside for ice-creams in the sunshine.
Then home to rest our weary feet and enjoy home-made Leek and Potato soup. Love from The Lizard Girl
Thank pasty it's Friday - well it was when I took the photo!
I reckon there's an aura of light around this sublime blackberry and apple pie baked and served at Kynance Cove Cafe.
I took this a few days before mum and dad's visit. I woke up to lovely weather early on Sunday morning and popped down to Kynance while it was still relatively low tide. I wanted to get some good pics so ended up backing up and backing up until I found myself on a narrow cliff path. Not a great idea first thing in the morning when there's not another car in the car-park and no-one to spot you dangling off the cliff-face. However, the shoot passed without incident and I'm really happy with this shot. Just wish I had a wide-angled lens. (I actually shot this on my mobile - I took both cameras with me but prefer this pic out of all of them.)
August Bank Holiday Monday dawned hot and sunny so I packed up a picnic (my last of the season in hindsight) and headed off to Rinsey. Had a lovely few hours soaking up the sun on one of my favourite beaches.
On Tuesday I headed off to St Ives for my last visit before I leave. I took the park and ride from Lelant Saltings. There's no point struggling to get into, and then trying to find a parking space in, St Ives when you can let the train take the strain and it's all part of the fun. Well it would have been more fun if a big, arrogant man hadn't pushed past me (and his wife) to bag the best seat. I took a picture of him as he annoyed me. Not because he bagged the seat but for barging, but I won't sully my blog by posting his big fat back.
St Ives at low tide.
I treated myself to lunch at The Porthmeor Cafe, again last time for a while, and then took a stroll along the beach.
The view of Porthminster Beach at St Ives, walking back to the station.
I got off at Carbis Bay to spend a few hours on the beach. It wasn't as nice as it looked in the distance. I thought it would be a bit special and posh as it belongs to the Carbis Bay Hotel but it wasn't and my tea and cake were downright disappointing. Should have saved my money. This is the view as you walk back up the hill to the station; taking in the sweep of Carbis Bay, then Porthkidney beach, Lelant, Hayle and round to Gwithian Towans with Godrevy lighthouse just visible in the far distance.
This is the view from the train looking back towards Carbis Bay with St Ives in the distance.
And looking ahead to the wide open expanse of Porthkidney Beach.
I spent most of Wednesday at home but did pop into Mullion Cove. Even though it's so near to home I hadn't been there since the day I came to view Peninnis back in January, although I pop into Mullion village occasionally.
A friend posted this video to my Facebook wall showing the coast line around Cornwall. As I live in a landmark building I'm luckily enough that my home is shown at 1 minute 20 seconds in. It looks better in full screen, unless it ends up too blurry.
I found this one on You Tube as well. It shows the amazing peninsula I've been lucky enough to live on for the last six months, opening with Lizard Lighthouse where I live. This one looks better not in full screen.
Both videos are produced by Visit Cornwall, the Cornwall Tourist Board. There's lots of other ones to look at on You Tube. Love from The Lizard Girl
On Saturday morning I could put it off no longer. I've been about to do the walk from Mullion to Kynance Cove for the longest time. Ie arriving at Kynance Cove from the opposite direct. I knew it was going to be quite a tough six mile hike. The weather was perfect; warm but not sunny, a light wind and no rain. As I was leaving I shared my plans with lovely Patrick the car-park attendant. As a Mullion man he was delighted I was doing the walk but suggested I park at Predannack rather than Mullion. I heeded his advice and nosed the car down the usual Cornish narrow lane with narry a passing place in sight.
Not sure what I love more about this sign - the wording - or the fact that the field had an electric fence!
And, of course, there's a National Trust car-park at the end. The usual well guarded Cornish secret. Heavens it would never do to actually tell people there's a perfectly good car-park here, just like the National Trust car-park at Rinsey and the one at Degibna or Botallack...
Looking towards Soapy Cove below Gew-graze valley
It was Saturday of the August Bank Holiday weekend and I hardly came across another soul. Apart from the poor lady, walking with her husband, who was too scared to walk through the valley of cows. She had been chased by cows years earlier and was understandably nervous although I did try to explain that these are free range cows in every sense of the word and are used to visitors. I think they ended up doing a massive detour. It was a shame as the cows were in Gew-graze valley which is one of the highlights of the walk. Although my poor calves didn't think so as the path going down and up again is steeper than it looks.
Some pretties for you: Rose hips and heather
Sheep's-bit
The 'back' of Kynance Cove with Lizard Lighthouse teeny-weeny in the distance - if you click on the photo you should be able to see it. The Lighthouse looks as if it's inland because it's round the corner from the headland.
In the first photo you can see there is still a lot of sand but the tide is coming in from both sides.
... in the following photo there's probably about half an hour left before the whole of this side of the beach is submerged. If there was anyone left on that spit of sand they'd have to swim round to the main beach of Kynance Cove as that's the only way out. Or scramble onto Asparagus Island and wait for the tide to go out again.
A little tour of Kynance Cove from the cliffs
After lunch I headed back and, although not quite in the spirit of hiking, was glad that by parking at Predannack I had shaved about a mile off the walk! However, my best friends; walking boots, fleece and perfect sized backpack with his mate, water, are great travelling companions.
