Post 14/2022 Thursday 31 March . . . My, my, what a fine time we had this week with great-niece Jenny and her husband Rory. They hopped across the pond from Boston, arriving in St Ives after a five-and-a-half-hour Great Western Railway journey from London Paddington. Together we treaded ancient pathways, traipsed through Areas of Outstanding Beauty, took in the coconut aroma of Gorse, talked up a storm, and, yes, devoured a goodly variety of Cornish-proud foods and drink. Only one word to say it all: Yes!
Jenny and Rory emerge from the Great Western Railway Branch Line train at its end stop in St Ives. Their train from London was delayed almost an hour because of a signaling problem along the line. Thank goodness for updates via phones and email. Heading down Tregenna Hill along with other pedestrians, vehicular traffic–including the open top Coasters bus–and a dog or two.
Time, tide and weather together
Small table, perfect for a fine meal.We had two dinners (called tea) around our (on loan) table.Country walk from St Ives, skirting around to Carbis Bay, with a stop at the Cornish Arms for a Sunday evening roast.
Truro, Malpas, St Clement
We walked from the train station in Truro to Malpas (here leaving lunch at the Heron Inn) on to St Clement and circular return to Truro. Path leaving the hamlet of Malpas, where the tidal Truro and Tresillian Rivers join.Seeing is believing: Rory jogged up this steep pathway. I paused twice, ostensibly to look back over the field and to take a few pictures. A farm track leads to St Clement village where the road ends at the Tresillian River.Celtic Knot windows in St Clement Church.Plaque below the cross reads: “The Ignioc Stone. First scheduled as a national monument 22 March 1932 when it stood in the vicarage drive from which it was removed and re-erected here 8 November 1938. Re-scheduled 12 January 1939.” The cross-head was carved on the stone probably in the 12th century, the monument possibly originating as a prehistoric standing stone.
Marazion, St Michael’s Mount
On Tuesday we took the bus to Ludgvan from where we walked to Marazion and St Michael’s Mount.
M-Marazion. Town of 1,440 population on the English Channel two miles east of Penzance, one-half mile off-shore from the tidal island of St Michael’s Mount. The town’s earliest known charter was given in 1257 and in 1595 Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter of incorporation, providing for marketing and trading enterprises. Initially a Benedictine Monastery, St Michael’s Mount attracted pilgrims until the monastery’s demise at the time of the Reformation. The electoral ward incorporating the surrounding villages numbers a population of 4,625.
Happily, as we were on our way to say hello to a friend, Mary, whom we got to know on The West Cornwall Footpaths Preservation Society, we bumped into her as she was walking to a sewing event at the Methodist Church. We introduced Jenny and Rory (Jenny the daughter of niece Jan who has spent time with us in Cornwall). No need to introduce ourselves. “You’re still local,” Mary said. An M for Mary, too.
Trilling sounds along a hedge in the last field to Marazion, A small grove of pines through which passes St Michael’s Way.
N-Nettle. “Urticaceae: Urtica). Two green-flowered plants with stinging hairs on their stems and leaves. Stinging nettle U . dioica. forming large patches on nitrogenous soils in fields, woods, and fens and on waste ground, is much the commoner. Small nettle U . urens, a frequent weed of cultivation, has milder stinging hairs. Dead-nettles and Hemp-nettles are labiates with nettle-like leaves but no stinging hairs.”
There’s nettle tea, nettle beer, cheese with a rind of nettle, and we’ve just read of a Cornish woman who makes scarves out of woven nettle, soft and comfy to the neck, the article said.
Marsh Marigold in Marazion Marsh.Footprints of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh taken on their visit to St Michael’s Mount 17th May 2013. The Duke died 9 April 2021. It was good to see that the Queen was well enough to attend the service of thanksgiving in memory of Prince Philip held at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday.
The sea has covered the causeway to the tidal island of St Michael’s Mount, one-half mile offshore.
Seals, an adder, photo op
Godrevy Island / Lighthouse viewed from The Towans (sand dunes) part of the South West Coastal Path. Landslips have increased in this area since our last visit two years ago. Seals at Navax Point, near Godrevy Island / Lighthouse never fail to draw attention to their lolling, occasional barks, and movement about. The first time there we thought we were seeing rocks, until the “rocks” starting to move and talk. “Adders live here,” says the sign. Far left you’ll see a sunning adder. Extraordinary sighting of England’s only poisonous snake. Closeup of the sunning adder, who shortly thereafter wagged its tail and disappeared into it’s home.Pause for a 12-second timed photo on the South West Coastal Path along the rocky cliffs and land managed by the National Trust. So many favorite walks, so glad we got to do some of them–and that we caught a bus back to Carbis Bay a few minutes after we had walked a few miles back toward Hayle, given that no buses were yet running on the route from Gwithian and there was no phone signal at Gwithian to call a cab. Angels also take the shape of double-decker bus drivers running a few minutes late. PTL! We walked just shy of 40 miles in five days. Gorgeous weather. Memorable. Repeatable.
I end with the interjection of verse 1 and the chorus, or refrain, from a hymn by Graham Kendrick: “Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair, Lord in the suffering, this is our prayer. Bread for the children, justice joy, peace, sunrise to sunset your kingdom increase.” Refrain: “God of the poor, friend of the weak, give us compassion, we pray, melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain. Come change our love from a spark to a flame.”
What a positive experience with young, happy people! Your photos reflect the joyful smiles and exhilaration that were shared. I benefited from seeing these photos and descriptions , and I thank you all.!
It's About Now 
Sounds like a very wonderful week — both your company and the surprise of an adder sighting make it memorable!
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Wonderful indeed. Wonders never cease. Thanks!
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What a positive experience with young, happy people! Your photos reflect the joyful smiles and exhilaration that were shared. I benefited from seeing these photos and descriptions , and I thank you all.!
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Thank you, Marcia, for putting words to our animated week. As well as your comment on benefiting from traipsing around with us. Best!
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So nice to have family visiting. You covered a lot of ground during their visit.
Kaye
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So good to share a place and people we’ve come to love. See you soon!
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