Tuesday, June 3
We are really enjoying our breakfasts at Bedknobs and not just because of the lovely food. This is a very popular B&B so there are always other people staying here and breakfast is a great opportunity to meet and chat with them. This morning we ate with a Spanish doctor - a regular at Bedknobs - seconded by the NHS to work at Bodmin Hospital for a week every few months, a father and son who were avid railway enthusiasts and in Cornwall to ride three of the vintage steam trains throughout the area, and another regular, a lady from London who trains people who work in child protection throughout the Bodmin area and her aunt who had driven down from Wales to attend a play here as well as catch up with her niece. The conversation is always lively and interesting as the other guests are so varied in nationality, interests, travel experiences, etc. Kim, the owner always comes in and gives each of us the weather forecast for the area we plan to spend the day in along with other helpful tips on what to see in those areas.
Some of the beautiful farmland and wildflowers fleeting past
We had planned to head towards Falmouth and Kim told us about the excellent Maritime Museum and one of Rick Stein's restaurants there (both of which we had already decided to go to). Distances are never that far but the narrow roads add considerable time to the journey. Fortunately we were able to follow the A30 to Falmouth so it was only an hour's drive. We passed some of the most beautiful farmland edged with hedgerows but the hedgerows made photography quite difficult. The little villages consisted of storybook buildings and because it is Spring, the gardens were a picture and wild flowers edged the road and covered many of the fields too. It really was breathtaking.
Falmouth
Noelle outside the Maritime Museum
Once in Falmouth, we went straight to the Maritime Museum where we were met by an older lady volunteer who was a fountain of knowledge on the Museum. She told us about the main exhibits. One was a sailing boat for children to learn to sail in. Noelle was tickled because it was a Mirror - the boat the Gardiner family learned to sail in. Other exhibits covered boat-building in the area, boats used by British Olympic medal winners, Shackleton's ill-fated expedition, the rescue of the Robertson family back in the 70's, Tony Bullmore's rescue off the WA Coast more recently, local oyster farming techniques in Falmouth where no motorised boats can be used, and smuggling along the Cornish Coast during the 18th & 19th centuries. The exhibits were very well presented and because they were so varied we didn't get bored at all and before we knew it, it was time to head to Rick Stein's Fish Restaurant for lunch to ensure we would be back at the car before the 4 hour parking ticket expired. We had a fabulous lunch of fish cooked to perfection followed by the most glorious desserts and left the restaurant with no desire to have an evening meal.
Noelle in front of the Mirror training dinghy
Al outside Rick Stein's Fish Restaurant in Falmouth
From Falmouth we headed for Helston - the town known for its annual Morris Dance Festival. Al and his family attended the festival back in the 1970's and it was held two weeks ago this year. The town is a typical Cornish town when the festival is not in full swing but we were happy to have a look around and a welcome cup of coffee. As it was only 5pm and it doesn't get dark until 10pm in this part of the world, we decided to drive on further to Lizard Point, the most southerly point of mainland England. When we got there, the wind had dropped and it even felt warm - or is our blood beginning to thicken? We walked down to the southernmost point and then to the Lizard Lighthouse but we were too late and it had closed. Fortunately, the National Trust is now in charge of the area and has erected really informative sign boards so we were able to read about the lighthouse's history and about the 400 vessels that have been wrecked there in the last 500 years. As it is an important turning point for ships and the currents are very strong, the jagged rocky coastline has proved a hazard for thousands of years but now the lighthouse is fitted with the latest technology and has made the area a lot safer.
Lizard Point - the most southerly point of mainland England
After our walk, we headed for "home" and, before too long, ran into misty rain that got heavier when we arrived in Bodmin. We were pleased to see on TV tonight that the forecast for this area and also where we are heading later in the week, is for fine and warmer weather so hopefully the forecast is correct and this rain will blow through.
Al in front of the Lizard Lighthouse
We are really enjoying our breakfasts at Bedknobs and not just because of the lovely food. This is a very popular B&B so there are always other people staying here and breakfast is a great opportunity to meet and chat with them. This morning we ate with a Spanish doctor - a regular at Bedknobs - seconded by the NHS to work at Bodmin Hospital for a week every few months, a father and son who were avid railway enthusiasts and in Cornwall to ride three of the vintage steam trains throughout the area, and another regular, a lady from London who trains people who work in child protection throughout the Bodmin area and her aunt who had driven down from Wales to attend a play here as well as catch up with her niece. The conversation is always lively and interesting as the other guests are so varied in nationality, interests, travel experiences, etc. Kim, the owner always comes in and gives each of us the weather forecast for the area we plan to spend the day in along with other helpful tips on what to see in those areas.
Some of the beautiful farmland and wildflowers fleeting past
Falmouth
Noelle outside the Maritime Museum
Noelle in front of the Mirror training dinghy
Al outside Rick Stein's Fish Restaurant in Falmouth
Lizard Point - the most southerly point of mainland England
Al in front of the Lizard Lighthouse
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