Post 8/2024/Cornwall/UK. Showers, heavy rain, spots of sun, brief hail, and brisk winds kept us homebound on Thursday. One good result of all the rain is that Cornwall’s reservoirs are at full or near full capacity. That’s dramatically different from last year’s hosepipe ban (February 2023 driest in 20 some years; 2024 so far wettest in some years).

It’s good to be here. In Carbis Bay / St Ives on the Atlantic coast. Home from home.

Penzance and Newlyn

On Monday we took the bus to Penzance and walked to The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn for lunch. Lovely walk and fine lunch. Rain free.

St Ives

Tuesday. Two-mile walk to St Ives. Daffodils, camellias, and a cascade of snowdrops greeted us along the South West Coast Path.

Got books at the library, a few things at the pharmacy and at Harvey Brothers Family Butchers (warm welcome for the folks from the USA) a Chicken Ham & Mushroom Pie and Pork Pie. For lunch we had ice cream cones (mindful to watch against gulls swooping in for a bite). Stopped at The Cornish Arms to book a table for Sunday roast. Evening, lovely meal with Steve and Marilyn.

Carbis Bay

Home base. Bus stops are just outside our cottage. Three restaurants within a few minutes on foot. The newest is an Italian Trattoria, called Romanos. It’s an honest to goodness trattoria–coffees, pastries, breakfast and lunch, dinner at the weekend, Italian goods–small, cozy, no printed menu. We had breakfast there. Nice. Italy almost at our front door. Wow! It’s a short walk to the Costcutter neighborhood grocery store and an NHS Pharmacy. Church is a five minute walk away. We’re settling in.

Thursday, day in

Thursday, our day in, saw heavy rain, brisk winds, a spot of hail, and the sun playing peak-a-boo with the rain. Apart from a walk to the nearby post office truck and Costcutter for teacakes, we read, cooked, watched TV, and played Five Crowns. We wimped out of a walk with the West Cornwall Footpaths Preservation Society–all to our loss according to the report and photos of the three who braved the elements.

Thanks for “travelling on” with us. Be well!

-John