Gwithian, Cornwall. June 2012

   We liked Gwithian and the surrounding area so much we decided to come for another week.  Easy to get to and easy to set up.  We noticed this time that each pitch has its own supply of water!
We didn’t set off as early this time but we still made sure we stopped for a bacon butty!  Mmm.  There’s something rather satisfying seeing all the other cars zooming past, possibly to the next services, tucking into a freshly cooked bacon butty with a cup of tea.  Another time it would be us zooming past, but just this time we can relish in it being our turn.
 

   We did hit hold ups around Bodmin Moor and wished we had left earlier but they didn’t keep us held up by long.  We had to let another caravanner into the traffic as they hadn’t seen the lane converging sign – well, we assume they hadn’t seen it! 

 

   It was a little windy when we finally arrived but we still put the awning up.  It is so useful – even more so now that Mike has invented and made a coat hanger for our wet coats.  It is simply a broom handle inserted into a round pipe on the end of a spiral spike that is wound into the ground.  He screwed a few hooks into the top and voila!  And it works really well!

 

   We went down to the pub for dinner.  We only just managed to get a table!  It was packed.  I’ve never seen it so busy before.  It did give the place a holiday atmosphere as many of the people were from the camp site opposite. 

 

   We have noticed numerous amounts of a reddish pinky flower that we now know as Red Valerian growing form walls.  I’m thinking that as it seems to be fairly hardy that I would be able to grow it in our garden.  We did find some seeds so time will tell!

   Sunday saw us driving around getting the lie of the land under our belts again, shopping for food and nibbles then ending up down the pub again whilst dinner cooked – Chicken Chorizo.  Another  mmmmmm.

   Monday and we were left wondering what weather we would encounter.  So far it has been windy and drizzly.  Monday started off dry but with threatening clouds.  We travelled over to Falmouth to visit the Trebah Gardens.  We parked up and still hadn’t decided.  We took the plunge and paid our £8.50 entrance fee (each) for the privilege.  Actually, the price isn’t that bad.  For that we are able to come back for up to a week, which is what we will do.  The government have stopped the way charities are ‘helped’ by them paying a certain amount to them dependant on the tax payer that uses their services or helps them in any way.  Trebah Gardens is a charity and we found some small print that asked that if we were prepared to pay £9.35 then the government would pay an extra 25% to the charity (an extra 25% as opposed to what I am unsure).

   The gardens were great.  Really different to the Penjerrick Gardens we saw last year and totally in a different league.  The gardens are on a hill so there are some fairly steep hills to negotiate but we started off going down towards the beach (and little tea bar).  We criss-crossed the stream and waterfalls heading downwards.  I can imagine the hydrangeas, when they are out, will look truly amazing!  There is a section of Gunnera which is huge and must be magical and slightly scary for children, but nevertheless exciting to walk under!  I really wished we had Josh with us.

   The walk back up was less exciting but only because we took a different route.  We wandered into the shop.  There is always a shop cashing in on the unsuspecting public and yes we did succumb.  Something for Dave and Josh and Mum.  Now only Amy to find something for.  Oh, and I bought a packet of the Red Valerian seeds!

   That afternoon was glorious.  Not a cloud in the sky.  In fact when we returned to the caravan it was a change into the bikini and a sunbath!  And we got burnt!  I suggested a walk over the sand dunes to watch the sun set at 9pm.  It would have been lovely but the clouds started rolling in and they hid what would have been a memorable sunset.

   Tuesday and the rain!  Torrential.  Hard to think that only yesterday we were sunning ourselves.  However, we took the plunge and left for Porthleven to the Harbour Market there – and guess what – no rain!  Mind you, the market wasn't anything to write home about but there were some lovely crafts there.

   On to Penzance to buy Mike a pair of much needed shoes then back to the caravan for a cup of tea and cake – or in Mikes case a (‘nother) Pasty.

   Meal at the pub.  Again very good.  Mike had the steak and it was cooked just to his liking and I had the Crab Pasta.  Not that much crab but still tasty.  It looks like it would be a good sunset this evening but we are just too bushed to walk across the sand dunes to watch it.  I think we will definitely have to come back again.  I don’t think I will ever tire of Cornwall.

   Wednesday and the weather in the morning was an improvement on yesterday but we are still wondering whether we would actually be able to do anything without getting wet.  First of all to Potheleven to see the Tesserae gallery/workshop that we missed on Monday.  Madhu is a lovely lady and very willing to impart her knowledge, unlike some other mosaicers.  I signed up for a workshop on Friday so at least I can see if I am doing it correctly!

   On to the Mawgan Feast Week at Mawgan.  We found Mawgan but not any feasts.  In actual fact the Feast bit is actually for a fest or Festival for the local people although other people are very welcome.  Most of the events are during the evenings of the week with an all day event on Saturday.  Never mind – off to the supermarket to find something for dinner.

We would have thought this bench
 would have had more use being next to the car park.
It was covered in lichen

   We had lunch at Coverack, another lovely village.  We lunched in The Wave cafe which was extremely busy and only a few people working but we waited for our orders and were we glad we did.  Mikes Ploughman’s was huge with 3 different cheeses and ham along with salad, chutney and bread.  My Crab Sandwich was again very huge!  So much crab.  It certainly made up for lack of crab last night.  Salad and chips with that.  We were certainly satisfied with that so when we went shopping we wondered what to get.  Ended up with tapas.  Small dishes so probably better but we did also get some sharing bread to go with it so probably not a sensible as it could have been!

   We went to St Michaels Mount in the afternoon.  We had to take the boat there and back as the tides weren’t right for us to walk out on the causeway.  We actually went up to the castle.  Very steep climb but the views were stunning.  Shame about the dull clouds around but the rain stayed off so we can’t be too greedy.  We could see the gardens from the castle above and they look good too so we will have to come back just to see the gardens and perhaps picnic by the sea on the rocks.

   Back to the caravan at 6pm; late for us.  We are knackered!  Relaxed with a beer and read the paper for a while before dinner.

  Thursday and we lay in bed till quite late.  We’d arranged to meet up with Bob and Wendy.  Mike used to work with Bob a few years ago then he moved down to Cornwall, much to the envy of us and a number of other people!  We met up at the M&S at Hayle had a catch-up then moved on to the ‘Heartlands’, a newly opened museum to tin mining that is free!  We had lunch there then a look around.  The weather was atrocious; rain and wind so we stayed inside as much as we could.  There were also craft shops.  We looked around one but then we decided to go back to Bob and Wendy’s house for a nice cuppa tea.  A quick stop at the supermarket for dinner, and a run in the rain, before heading back to the caravan – and what a site when we got there.

   As I have said, the wind has been rather strong.  Our porch awning was down.  Still attached to the caravan but little else was as it should have been.  Luckily by then the rain had stopped so we set to and re-poled and re-pegged.  Then we decided to take it down!  We are glad we did as that night the wind was doing it’s thing again and it would have been flapping continuously.  Not conducive to a good night’s sleep but there again we didn't sleep much anyway!

This is the result of the mosaic that I started at Madhu's

   Mike had arranged for me to do a mosaic course so we had to get up to get there.  I insisted we had breakfast which in effect made us late but as everything is ‘dreckly’ down here I didn't think it would matter.  The course with Madhu was good.  She showed me a few techniques which I haven’t gathered from books and she made me aware that  I had a good sense of composition.  I’m glad she said that as now I feel I can continue with at least some confidence.  Mike, all this time, was patiently waiting in the car. (not all the time, he had to have another pasty)  Isn’t he a star!

   On the way to our second visit to Trebah Gardens, we took a number of small narrow twisty roads.  On the right hand turns I looked out ahead to warn Mike of oncoming cars.  This I did with varying certainty!  Some of the sounds I used to warn of an oncoming vehicle was; a sharp intake of breath, ‘a ccc’ when it was a coach, ‘car’, ‘a’ with a point; many and varied.  Mike did a wonderful job though but doesn’t really want to do too many of those roads!

   On the way back we stopped at a place sign posted for Looe Bar and walked along the road and cliff to try and find it.  We never found it but we did see some pretty amazing wild sea water.  Try as I might I could never take that definitive photograph but I think I have taken some fairly good ones.

   On our return we asked if we could stay an extra day as the wind is really too strong for travelling home.  Luckily they have allowed us to, given the circumstances, even though there are six vans now on the site.  We are assured the wind will die down on Sunday.  Here’s hoping.

   We went to Truro on Saturday.  We were convinced we had been there before but we certainly hadn’t.  There was farmers market and a craft tent.  We actually bought quite a few bits and bobs there.  One of the people on a stall in the craft tent thrust a leaflet in my hand.  He was quite insistent I take it.  When I looked at it the first thing I saw was ‘for the over 50’s’.  Do I obviously look over 50?  Maybe today after all this wind.

   Back to the caravan, replenish water and sort out stuff for our departure tomorrow (fingers crossed).  Nice cup of tea and a snooze for Mike.  Then the sun came out!  Quick, on with the boots and down to the beach.  Brilliant.  Exhilarating. But still windy!  Mike commented 'we could do that with our awning'  The kite surfers were out and it was fascinating watching them; how the criss-crossed each other without getting all tangled up.  I thought I would like to have a go but can see myself tying everyone up!  

   Picky bits for dinner tonight as we had a lovely lunch in Truro in a cafe near to the cathedral.  We got some lovely Olives and mix of sundried tomatoes, garlic and spiced shallot (not sure they are like the little onions) from a Mediterranean stall – wow the garlic was strong and hot!  Our fellow campers may insist we go tomorrow come what may!  Don’t speak too loudly but the wind is dying down.

   Sunday's weather was certainly a lot calmer and didn't have any problems getting home.  That's the way a holiday should end.