by steve, on September 24th, 2009 (
UK)
We had a very pleasant evening in Wells. We did go out for a meal. Rather predictably we found a local Indian which turned out to make excellent food. We were delighted. We had a good night’s sleep with a lie in before breakfast which involved more sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, etc. We read a little more before beginning our trip to Cornwall.
As we had some time in hand we thought we’d have a look around Glastonbury, just a few miles to our South and more or less on our way to the motorway. Who knows, being the equinox we may save some poor naked virgin about to be sacrificed by some deranged druids. There was some disappointment on this front but we did have a good visit.
Our first stop was Glastonbury Tor. It was an old ruin of a church (just the tower) perched a few hundred feet above the town on a small hill. This must have been built by clergy who wanted their congregations to be fit. The views from the top were superb. We could see all around including, off in the distance, Wells cathedral. Down below we could see much of the town of Glastonbury but not the remains of the abbey.
This was our next stop. We hiked back down the hill and along a country lane back to the car and parked by the old abbey. Although the abbey was close to Wells Cathedral and built at the same time, it was in ruins. This was due to differences of opinion between controlling monks and Henry VIII during the reformation period – in particular, differences about where certain church treasures should be kept. The abbey must have once been magnificent but no more.
We were treated to a nice performance of living history in the old kitchen, the only fully standing and intact part of the old structure.
Before heading down to Cornwall we had a wander around the town. Glastonbury is clearly very much a New Age mecca with plenty of stores ready to exploit those who’ve convinced themselves a well placed crystal will change their world.
The drive down to Penzance, Cornwall took about three hours. We arrived about a minute or two after Helen’s sister Lois and her husband Robin. They’d just finished their last of about five trips down to Cornwall moving their possessions from their old home in Stevenage. They have recently retired and are moving to Cornwall to enjoy the area. Helen’s brother, Peter, was also there. We were soon all unloading the van into Lois and Robin’s home and later into Peter’s storage under his house, just a few miles away.
Once this was accomplished and the van dropped off it was time to kick back, open the wine and catch up with everything. In the evening Peter went home and the rest of us went out to eat at a pub called the Dolphin Arms.
Our plan for day 2 in Cornwall was to get a good hike in. The calorie battle seems to be escalating as moderation, having failed to take a foothold, has yielded to increasing output battling increasing input. Our first excursion was to a local café for breakfast – a full English again. Then it was off to the western end of the peninsular to walk the coast. The area was rugged and beautiful as Cornwall is and festooned with old tin mine ruins. As Lois and Robin knew the area well they were our guides. They took us on a great route including clambering over beaches of boulders and up to Cape Cornwall. 
Off the beach of boulders we were able to see seals playing in the water. The weather quite misty and very slightly drizzly – the worst we’ve experienced on our trip so far. Nevertheless it was all very pleasant and enjoyable.
Heading back to Penzance Robin took us along the southern route and detoured into a tiny fishing village called Penberth Cove. There were only a few houses but each was ready for it’s own postcard image. There were a few fishing boats which could be dragged up and down to the sea using a large manual capstan.
Back at Lois and Robin’s house in Penzance we rested for a while. I finished the Dan Brown book I’d recently bought. The ending was a bit wet but overall it had been a riveting read. Peter and his wife, Dianne, came over shortly and we ordered a combination of Chinese and Indian take out for dinner.
Today we plan to visit the library to catch up on emails, etc. Our shipment of boat parts is progressing and should arrive in Grenada the week after we arrive. That’s perfect timing for us. I want to make sure there are no hiccups with this and that the boatyard are on time with their work. We don’t want to have to sit on the hard any longer than we have to when we return to Grenada.
