Saturday 31 December 2016

Penzance, Mousehole, & Cape Cornwall: Christmas Eve, 2016.

Nice little drive to Penzance this morning.
Not too much traffic about - perhaps everyone is last-minute Christmas shopping?
Vicky is excited.
So many opportunities to take photos of fishing boats.
You spoil me, Dave.
Look Vic.
Not every boat is a fishing boat.
A gang of sanderlings and a cormorant.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Vicky takes some photos of fishing boats.
A couple of fishing boats looking splendid in the morning sunshine.
St Michael's Mount from Penzance.
A cream tea to help us keep going.
Wall-to-wall boats of various sorts.
David, can we go to Mousehole now?
We are in Mousehole, which is all set for its Christmas Lights Extravaganza.
Santa is in Mousehole and keeping fit for his big night.
You sit there Dave and I'll take a photo of you.
OK Vic.
Vicky and Mousehole harbour.
Next stop - St Just.
Unfortunately, St Just doesn't have a lot to make us stay but it does have a brown sign for something called Cape Cornwall so we follow it.
Cape Cornwall.
We like it already.
A Cape Cornwall selfie.
It's a bit windy here but at least it's in our backs when coming back up a slope.
One of Vicky's signature jaunty-angle-jobbies.
Rocks, waves and spray.
Brilliant.
For somewhere we had never heard of before, Cape Cornwall has been wonderful.
Something we took a photo of as we drove back to Carbis Bay Pt I.
Something we took a photo of as we drove back to Carbis Bay Pt II.
Something we took a photo of as we drove back to Carbis Bay Pt III.
Something we took a photo of as we drove back to Carbis Bay Pt IV.

Friday 30 December 2016

Coastal walk, Carbis Bay, Friday, 23rd December, 2016.

The weather forecast for today is that it will rain all day from about 11am.
So we are off out early by 9am (that's really early for us).
We walk along Headland Road and are very pleased with the view towards Hayle to the east.
We have to cross the local railway line to join the coastal path back to Carbis Bay.
Not many trains at this time of year but still need to take care.
Safe and sound on the coastal footpath.
This portion of the coastal footpath is not as well used as the bit between Carbis Bay and St Ives.
Hence its narrow confines.
Not just surfers to watch from here but seals and cormorants an' all.
St Ives and a cloudier sky loom in the distance.
Are we nearly there yet Vic?
Carbis Bay beach. But we're not going down there today.
Step back Dave. Somebody young(er) is using the coastal footpath for his fitness regime. 
It's an outrage.
Almost back home.
Just a steady two miles today.
Just gone 11am and the rain has arrived as predicted.
Time for a day of rest and recuperation.


Carbis Bay to St Ives and back: Thursday, 22nd December, 2016.

9:00am-ish.
View from our living room.
Prospects for the day's weather are looking good.
Fingers crossed.
Two hours later and we are under cloudy skies (boo!) on the coastal footpath above Carbis Bay.
Looking back along Carbis Bay is an excellent excuse to catch one's breath.
There are some steep inclines on this path!
Always keen to assist the Cornish pilchard fishing industry 
we stay vigilant on the pilchard-spotting front.
Nope, none about today Vic.
Howard is pleased to arrive in St Ives.
Porthminster Beach seems very quiet today.
Where are all the dog walkers?
At least the clouds are breaking up now (yay!).
The tide is in.
Nice wave action against the harbour wall.
Vicky's pilates training comes in handy for this shot.
Life's a beach and all that.
St Ives harbour under a big-big sky.
A little bit of sunlight lifts everything and everyone.
Immature seagull scoffs fish without batter around it shock!
Vicky is chuffed to find another street named after her.
Young folk in wet suits fling themselves about in the surf 
whilst olduns sit in a warm cafe and take photos of 'em.
Waves crashing against rocks - always entertaining.
About to have a canter on the beach.
The afternoon is almost over. 
Time to walk back to Carbis Bay before it gets dark.
Nearly back 'home' now.
When we get in we are pretty tired.
Although it is 1.5 miles each way to St Ives and back we have, according to Fit Bit, walked 7.5 miles!
Shows how much walking we have done around the streets and beaches of St Ives.
No wonder our feet are throbbing.