Farewell Cornwall

Tue 23 May

Today was my last full day in Cornwall, and I spent the afternoon wandering around Lanhydrock House. (I bought a National Trust card on Sunday so things like this are free for a year.) I traded in the bike for the trusty golf and drove there after lunch. This old place, although not as old as Cotehele, is much more grand. I couldn't take any photos in the house, but if I could have I would have photographed the giant moose head, the white tiger rug, the tiger rug, the lion rug, the polar bear rug, the cheetah rug, and the rest of the non-PC things like the Golliwog book.

I drove home successfully, no need for a phonecall to the Buttons for directions this time!

I am flying to Manchester tomorrow and will be staying with that crazy cat Willis. Should be a top few days. Can't wait.

A Man's Not A Camel (Trail)

Mon 22 May

Today had finally arrived...the day I was to cycle the Camel Trail, the disused railway line between Poleys Bridge and Padstow via Bodmin and Wadebridge along the Camel River. Although it was lightly raining, I was assured that it would clear up. It did; about 3 hours after I had completed the ride!

I sourced a bike from one of the farm workers and hitched a lift with the butcher to Poleys Bridge (12.30 pm) where the 18 mile trail begins. The trail naturally breaks down into three sections, so I aimed to bike for an hour and pub for an hour etc. The first, and longest section (6.8 mile), was a pleasant ride in the bush along the river. It was a bit muddy under-wheel and without mudguards I was getting coated. I got to the Bodmin/Wadebridge intersection in good time so decided to bike the extra mile to Bodmin to take a look around. Rookie error as this was all uphill. The flipside of an uphill is a downhill, so heading back was easy as. I zoomed past the intersection about came across my first stop: The Borough Arms. I had a pint of Skinner's (Cornish Knocker I think) and a gammon baguette.

Having sufficiently muddied all surrounding areas for an hour I saddled my steed bound for Wadebridge. This section was horrid. The rain was heavy, I was full from lunch and I had a sore arse from the seat. Despite my harships I rallied on and made it to the Molesworth Arms for a pint of Tetleys ahead of shedule. The final, and supposedly most picturesque, section of my journey greeted me with heavy rain and a head wind which was relentless until I got to Padstow at about 5pm. I was shivering from the cold and wet but found the Harbour Inn for a St. Austell Duchy's Bitter and a few Cornish Creams.

At about 6.30pm Joe and Andrew finally rescued me and took me to the Shipwright Pub for a Rattler cider and then to Rick Stein's Fish and Chips. The cod here was just about the best I had ever had, and certainly hit the spot after my exhausting day.

The Evil Minions

Sun 21 May

Another rainy wake up, but after a play with the girls and and a roast beef lunch we drove to Cotehele in St Dominick, near Saltash. Cotehele House is mediaeval/Tudor, built in the 15th century, and is one of the least-altered houses in the country (a couple of power points and some smoke alarms).

We farewelled Kate and her family and drove home via Bodmin Moor to take a quick look at The Cheesewring (Hurlers Stone Circles) at Minions, a bronze age monument (c. 1500 BC).

It had been a very exhausting weekend with the girls so we all pretty much conked out once we got home. Everything came to life at 8.30 when we Joe was picked up from Newquay Airport...on time unlike what happened to me when I arrived almost a week ago!

Away Down To Lamorna

Sat 20 May

Once the breakfast fun was over we set out to the St Michael's Mount. Once we got there though we realised that the tidal island was closed for renovations so I will have to visit the chapel and castle some other time.

After a seaside lunch we drove to Penzance (no pirates today) for an icecream and then navigated the windy one car wide lanes to Lamorna Cove (yes, Andew and Jean did sing the old Cornish folk song "Lamorna" to me!).

The next stop, in Portcurno, was the Minack Theatre; an open-air theatre cut into the rock face above a picturesque gully. For me, this was the highlight of the day, absolutely incredible. When I go back to see the Mount, I will couple it with a performance at this spectacular theatre.

After Land's End and Cornish cream tea at Sennen Cove, Dave and Kate took the girls home, while we took the scenic route back; Cape Cornwall, Geevor Tin Mine, Zennor and St Ives.

After dinner I had my first experience at the Button's local pub: The White Heart Inn. I had a very pleasant Sharps Doom Bar Bitter there, followed by a Bowmore whisky at home.