Looe, Looe, trip to the Looe

NB DOUBLE CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE IN HIGHER DEFINITION

St George's Island, Looe

http://www.looeisland.co.uk/

The 1911 'Spy' lighthouse, Polperro

http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page68.html

http://www.polperro.org/eddystone.html

Polperro

Polperro

The Shell house, Polperro

http://www.holidaycottagespolperro.co.uk/Microsites/Site1/IntroPageAdv.aspx?MId=150

Polperro

Polperro -NB  May only open on your computer!

Interesting facts:

http://www.heritagepress.polperro.org/history.html

http://www.heritagepress.polperro.org/smuggling.html

Looe to Polperro return: 8 miles / 3.5 hrs:

Stunning views, lots of tourists and a lovely ice-cream at the end.  A Cornish heatwave and memories of Polperro as I recalled my last visit here with Lisa, Ben and Oscar one freezing cold winter's day, when we dived into a bakery with the double buggy ....                     :-(  and :-)

Thought for the day:

We can't change the nature of things but we can change how we interpret it.

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A flaming beautiful day.....

 Creed Church

 River Fal on the way to Tregony

 Roman 'Road' from Trewithen to Grampound

Lovely bluebells


Training day 10 - Circular route around Grampound - 8 miles / 2.5 hours

http://www.grampound.org.uk/visitor/leaflet4.pdf

A lovely spring day with my thoughts on getting back home before the Olympic torch routes brought the roads to a standstill suggested a local, flattish, beautiful inland walk on my doorstep.

Setting off from Grampound down quiet country lanes I stumbled across Creed Church.

Interesting fact:
A previous rector Rev William Gregor, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gregor, was celebrated for his discovery of titanium.

 Lovely church.  Taking a permissive path behind the church I headed off along the upper reaches of the River Fal.  You might be surprised to know that Grampound was once home to a deep and busy waterway with a Roman encampment nearby: http://www.grampound.org.uk/history/index.html.  Reaching a farmtrack I turned right through Golden Mill past an old chapel towards Probus via Sunrising to Trewithen gardens (you just have to visit earlier in the year when their Magnolia trees are out - magnificent! http://www.trewithengardens.co.uk/trewithen-gardens.  Past Trewithen down a bridleway and back to Grampound on a parallel 'Roman road' past the earthwork of Carvossa, http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/744/carvossa_enclosure.html (aside:  this link is to 'The Modern Antiquarian' by Julian Cope (ex teardrop Explodes) - a fantastic tome) in use between 1st and 4th centuries AD and once covered 5 acres.  Back down the old Turnpike road into Grampound for a Mary's pasty....ansome!

PS thanks Linzi for Oscar duties x

PPS  Nothing to do with the walk but later on in St Stephen the Olympic flame went past.  Not something that happens every day! 

 Thought for the day: There is a light that never goes out (Morrissey/Marr) from The Queen is Dead (or the Princess in my case)  ...... she is my eternal flame. R.I.P.

  http://www.last.fm/music/The+Smiths/The+Queen+Is+Dead/There+Is+a+Light+That+Never+Goes+Out

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A hidden gem - Pentewan -Black Head

 Pentewan

 Pentewan

 View towards Black head

 View from Black Head

 Carved from a fallen tree stump in garden of a house near Hellane stile

 Carved from a fallen tree stump in garden of a house near Hellane stile

Memorial to A L Rowse at Black Head

Memorial to A L Rowse at Black Head

Day 9 - Pentewan to Black Head - 7 miles, 3 hours


What a difference a week makes.  As you can see from the photos, I had my first taste of spring with a cheeky little trek from Pentewan to Black Head en route to Porthpean.  I didn't encounter many other walkers and that might be because of all the steps on the way.  I think I'll do this route more often nearer the trek as there are plenty of steep inclines / declines to tackle.  My right boot is still digging in over the ankle (groan not the boots again I hear you cry).  I'm telling you they've got to be right!  You really can't beat the scenery on a sunny day of the Cornish coast - almost mediterranean azure seas, beautiful deserted coves - don't tell everyone! Just get out there and try it for yourselves...thanks to Simon for looking after Oscar.  He must have enjoyed himself as when I pitched up to 'rescue' him he cried out.  "I don't want to go - I don't like Daddy!!''  Nice one Osc.

Interesting fact:

Read all about the local Cornish poet/historian A L Rowse depicted on the memorial stone pictured above, here:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/511146/AL-Rowse

This review is from: A Cornish Childhood: Autobiography of a Cornishman (Paperback)

This is a highly readable recollection of the author's childhood and youth in Tregonissey by St. Austell from 1903 to about 1940. It is well structured and intelligently written, recounting the delights as well as the limitations of life in a Cornish village but also the sobering and sometimes tragic effects of two World Wars on the local population. In the latter part of the book the writer describes his own intellectual development and his acquaintance with various well-known figures of the time. Most fascinating - I didn't want the book to end!


Thought for the day:

We can't change that life always changes, but we can learn to change with it.  You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf them!

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Quiz night at the Band Club St Austell 10 May 2012

Oh what a night....thank god Frankie Vallie wasn't one of the sing-a-longs. I think there were 17 teams in all - fantastic turnout.  Organised by Zoe Bush and Sarah Heyward, DJs Len and Aaron. Amie Barnie and colleagues from Cornwall Hospice Care attended as well. Thanks to the Band Club for hosting and providing a raffle and quiz prize - check out Helen Farmer rockin' all over the world! Amy was setting off for the Peru Trek the next days as well -good effort. I think the game was won by the Eventual Winners (no, that was their name) from the Valuation Office.  I love the fact they would have lost by 1 point had they not bought 10 points for a tenner -yes there was quite a bit of cheating going on!  We auctioned some great donated prizes from local businesses  and raised a total of £315 from that alone - £120 for 2 First Great Western tickets bought by my fellow trekker Kate Phillips -good girl!, £95 for a lovely DB&B at the Fowey Hotel (Michelle Hammond), £50 for two Scillonian tickets (Sean from the  Band Club) and £50 from Irene of the Polgooth Posse who got caught out trying to up the bids for 2 Cornwall Spa hotel prizes and won them at £50 (hasn't paid yet!). £100 from the thirsty buckets on the bar, £311 from entrance fees, Jokers, raffle tickets (loads of good prizes) and general extortion.  A Grand total of.......£726 astounding effort.  Thank you everyone!!

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Lukla airport landing and take off, Most amazing mountain flight, Everes...

We fly into here from Khatmandu to start the trek....gulp....!

Mad duck race (photos & videos)

So we staged the Duck event last Sunday 6th May at Pentewan River, St Austell and raised a phenomenal £332 for my trek - thank you Teresa Sweet and friends.

1st duck home - Terry Fastnedge
2nd - Amy Ross
3rd - James Barrett
Last duck - Millie Sweet


Photos from facebook for those that haven't seen them yet....

www.justgiving.com/Alan-Conway