More St.Ives

We've come to the end of our 3 weeks camping at St.Ives - rounded off today by a swim at Porthmeor Beach and a bbq. A lovely day even though the easterly wind has not let up all day. It's a windy place here and many caravaners have flag flying on fishing poles.

I have managed to get a couple of walks in along the South West Coast Path, dropping down from our campsite to meet the local Llama.

The coastal path west is quite rugged and has some interesting features including a 'stone circle' called "The Merry Harvesters".

Fable has it that these stones were once 13 old farmers and one beautiful 19 years old virgin from St.Ives. They were all caught dancing an ancient harvest fertility rite Morris Dance on Feast Sunday by the local Magistrate. They were immediately turned to stone forever! They say this was about 1947?

The views along the Coastal Path are wonderful as it passes along the cliff tops.
I needed to cross a delightful granite footbridge - quite recently built though?

Classic coastal path routes - a lot of up and down.

Having arrived at Zennor, I consulted the bus timetable for the 7 mile return to realise, as it was a Sunday, no service buses run and I was fortunate to catch the last 'tour bus', even though it meant a 90 minute wait - in the local pub!

The long road back and a welcome sign!

On a wet day we joined the coach trip to Port Wenn (i.e. Port Issac). A delightful, small fishing village surprisingly unspoilt by it's Doc Martin fame.

We then travelled over to Padstow, by contrast very commercialised and the wet weather had brought us holiday makers off the beaches into town. After the traditional pasty we wandered around the harbour. Let me see, which boat will we get next?

Alert readers will notice the 'crabbing' activity!

On this last Thursday, we finally moved the motorvan (1st time for almost 3 weeks) the grand mileage of 8 miles to St.Erth. The occasion was a beading course that Chris wanted to get to in the shop (her new hobby!) and  happily, this allowed me to take the rail connection to Bodmin Parkway. They still run the old Class 40's, 125 service here into Paddington. So people of a nervous disposition, please look away now as I take to a steamy affair on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

Modern? HST set

5552 taking on water

1928 'Small Prairie' Class 4575 - note the sloping water tanks

The even older 1899 T9, No 30120 - a 4-4-0

And in a message to the Men's Group sub Steam Group, what is the significance of the 2 white roundels on the smoke box? Answers gratefully received!

Chris and I finished the day by spending a great later evening with Jan and Paul who we had met on St.Martin's as they live locally.

We arrived back at the campsite so late (gone midnight) that we needed to park up outside and get our heads down after a great day.

Our last day here always is somewhat sad as we pack down ready to move on. However, with glorious weather, we did this in full sun, though again windy and finished the day with a trip down  to the beach for a swim and a bbq to finish.

Onwards to Devon next!