Cornwall For photographs scroll down to bottom
September 2008
with Jill Atkinson and Grenville Jones
Sat 6. Arrived Pentire Farm Cottage. Super spot and wonderful accommodation. But not everyone’s travel arrangements have gone to plan. Where have I heard that before!?
Sun 7. Some sunshine and a walk to St Enedoc’s via Pentire Head (memorial to Laurence Binyon). Read Betjeman’s poem at Trebetherick Strand and attended the Church service at 3.00 pm (not as inspiring as the poem). Climbed Brae Hill with Sue. Roast chicken dinner. Everyone settling in well. But I’ve lost a glove!
Mon 8. Slept well in readiness for the hike to Port Isaac. Really hard going but everyone managed – even Marilyn! The walk of a 1000 steps. Could look back and see The Rumps and Mouls Island – much to the annoyance of Margaret (no mobile). I went back to St Enedoc looking for missing glove. No luck! Sausage supper followed by Jill’s epilogue. Everyone exhausted.
Tues 9. Poor night. Wind howling and heavy rain (as forecast). Off to Tintagel via Camelford. Bus pass comes in handy. Tintagel too tacky for me. Best feature is the pasties (for the evening meal); huge, heavy and tasty. Walked along coastal path to Trebarwith (no) Strand. High tide but brilliant view of Gull Rock. Then walked back to St Materiana’s for afternoon worship. Very atmospheric. One more trip (with Jill this time) to St Enedoc’s in search of glove. Why all this effort over one miserable glove! Get a grip!
Pasties a great success and well worth the carrying. Went to bed at 9.45 pm.
Wed. 10. Got up at 3.30 am and saw Orion through the landing window. How brightly the stars shine here! Later saw sunrise. Off to Padstow today (bus and ferry) and thence to the start of the Saints’ Way. Brings back wonderful memories of a former journey. Worship at St Petroc (Little Petherick) and lunch at St Issey. Returned to Padstow via Camel Trail: the road of a million bikes. Got back to Rock where we were met by Annette and Allan. What a wonderful surprise! Cornish fish and chips for supper and then an ‘inaction’ video (The Shell Seekers) that appealed to the ladies.
Thurs. 11. An ominous date. Got a sore throat – hope I haven’t caught Julie’s cold. Going to spend some time on my own this morning before bussing it to Wadebridge and another trog down the Camel Trail. Picked some sloes for my gin, (now made) and visited the Betjeman centre. I like Betjeman: his faith, while important, was not an obsession. Good meal of Spag. Bol. followed by uproarious evening as I tried to tell the old joke about the inexperienced ‘litter man’ who could ‘pick the job up as he went along’. Strange, how the most banal of tales can reduce people to hysterical laughter. Then - - CALAMITY. First the lost glove; now I have left my walking hat in Wadebridge!
Fri 12. Last full day here in Cornwall. Good news: the Betjeman Centre has located my hat! Over to Padstow and the coastal path up to Stepper Point and beyond. Passed the sinister DOOM BAR. Wonderful, convivial evening meal in Wadebridge (picked up lost hat). A good time was had by all.
Sat 13. Woke early with sore throat! Typical! It’s good bye to Stepper Point and Pentire Head. It’s good bye to Julie (doesn’t do crisps) and Margaret (no mobile); to Marilyn and Sue; to Allan and Annette. Until the next time. May God bless PA and all who sail in her.
Grenville Jones
Back to top of page
1 On beach at Port Isaac
2 Final meal out