Cornwall Coastal Walk Day 4 Porthcurno to Penzance

After a great night sleep and full on breakfast at the B&B at Rockridge House (highly recommended: rockridgehouse@aol.com) I wondered out rather late in the morning to tackle another day. I was going to take the bus but it never arrived so I walked and was glad I did.

Once I got going all was fine. It seems the my body is harden up to this endurance. So up a steep climb out of Porthcurno I go. Along the coastline once again. Then in a distance I spotted a crazy backpacker like myself carrying a heavy load. Is he a Kiwi, Ausy or Canadian I thought to myself. No I was both wrong he was a young English lad. We exchanged stories and parted ways. Up and down and around into tiny coastal villages that time forgot then I headed inland towards the Merry Maidens. It was rather confusing on which track to take on this inland journey but by my surprise I stumbled into the right one. Go the Ordnance Map. Up road I walk and within an hour I was standing by a tomb dating 3000BC and down from there the Merry Maidens a small stone circle from the same period. Wow. It was hard to tell if I felt anything as this spot must have been visited a million times so I sat in the middle and left a small offering a round gem found on the beach of Whitesand Bay. Walking away from this spot I didn't look back but I had a feeling of "thanks" for what I had done.
Right......back to the Coastal track. After getting the feeling I was walking around in circles to my surprise I ended up at Lamorna. Here the pub was packed with locals going on their Easter Walk from the Mousehole to Lamorna. It was called the "Rut" I think? After a helping of fish and salad at the cafe I left Lamorna on the last leg to Penzance. Wasn't a bad walk rather easy in comparison to what I have experienced. Up and down and along towards Mousehole pronounced "Mawlzole" another coastal village and then a killer footpath towards Penzance. Thanks to a couple I meet on this leg they offered me a ride to Penzance but that was after a 3/4 hr hike to their car.

I booked into the backpackers and went for a walk had my 2nd Cornish Ice Cream "Rum and Raisen and Coffe" YUM!!!! and watched the sun go down. Tomorrow is another day and my feet this time was killing me. I was in two minds if I should walk to St Ives on the St Michaels Way. I decided that I wont. I have done enough at this stage. Bed was blessing in disguise.

Porthcurno

Burial Chamber and Merry Maidens

Mousehole

Penzance

Cornwall Coastal Walk and Bus Day 5 Penzance to St Ives

Woke to a glorious day with massively sore feet. The pavement mission of the day before certainly done some damage. My mission today is to head to St Michaels Mount and that will require walking a couple of kms to the bus stop. It was a rather slow jaunt but I made it. Alex an German girl came for the adventure so it was nice to have company. Unfortunately when we got to the Island of St Michaels Mount the castle was closed on Saturdays. Bugger!!! After exploring around a bit we decided to walk along the beach towards Penzance and head back to the backpackers so I can then head to St Ives. After a long bus ride via Truro to St Ives I was nice to be in company of people I meet on the first visit. I dumped my pack and went for a wonder around. The place was packed. People every where. I suppose it was expected as it was Easter break. Meet a half a dozen Kiwis out on the wharf so we headed to the Sloop Inn this time I brought a cap. Hit the booze there and continued on at the backpackers. What a night.

On the way to St Michaels Mount

St Michaels Mount

Monkey Man

http://www.raggedtrouseredphilanthropists.co.uk/
Saw these guys perform in a pub later on and what an performance it was well worth it. Check out there website.

St Ives

St Ives

St Ives Busker with amp-ed harp and it sounded choice.