A sunny day greeted me as I headed out along the coastal path. Fields of cauliflower grew in sheltered hillsides with funny scarecrows to keep the birds from eating them.The sun shone bright on a shimmering sea and large oil tankers passed across the horizon.The coastal path hugged the coastline and rose and fell making a walking rhythm hard to find. Seals bathed on the rocks and canoeists explored the sea inlets on what was a lazy sunny morning. I heard a Chough calling and then saw its shining black feathers and red beak . Lichen clung to old wooden post and I eventually came to Kenneggy sands where old huts marked the trail down to the beach. I scrambled over the rocks and rejoined the path as families played in the sea on what is a a very secluded spot. The path winds and twists its way east and is littered with abandoned Tin mines which rise up as reminders of an industrial past. At Praa sand families had gathered for a day of sand castle building and sun bathing. Two teenagers were playing a racket game without much success and spent most of their time fetching the ball that seemed to have a mind of its own. I left them and headed east to my lunch time destination of Porthleven. I reached the harbour and found a tearoom where I had a pot of tea and a rather large lump of cake. I then hit the road to Helston which I reached by minor roads and deep stony lanes. Helston looked very civilised with lots of character. Heading north out of Helston I caught up with Alison in a pub lay-by. The journey was complete till next March, it was time to go home.
On a overcast morning I set out from Land's End. It was wet and windy as I headed inland to Sennen cove and saw some teenagers doing some sort of training on the beach.The sun came out for 5 minutes and I climbed up to the ancient settlement of Carn Brea. The rain then lashed down again and the higher I climbed the foggier it became. Crossing the road at the top I came to a marshy moorland littered with abandoned mines . It was a very muddy 4 miles and I was glad to reach the shelter of the hamlet of Grumbla (not named after me I hasten to add). After many more muddy miles I eventually reached the outskirts of Penzance and the weather turned brighter. I sought refuge in a cafe and with the aid of a pastie, an apple turnover and a coffee recovered. The coastal path out of Penzance follows the railway line for about 3 miles as you head to Marazion and St Michael's mount. Flocks of Starlings on the beach were catching sandflies as the mist cleared over St Michael's mount. I resisted the desire to have an ice cream and headed towards Perranuthnoe where I was due to meet Alison. Arriving there I sat and waited for her in the car park and drank a cold drink. A hard but interesting day and tomorrows weather looked more promising
