Signs Of Spring?

It has been a tough week healthwise for me (Wayne). It appears that a reasonably mild social asthmatic in warm, dry Moruya becomes a gasping, coughing, chest infected mess in cold, damp Cornwall. So it was that I took three days off school, saw the doctor, got a large number of different pills, puffers and sprays and was well on the way to being mended by Saturday. Not perfect by any means but able to get out and enjoy a bit of a stroll in the sunshine. Got to take these opportunities while they are there.

We took out our book Pocket Pub Walks Of Cornwall and decided to do the walk from Fowey (pronounced 'Foy' almost by the locals). The associated pub was The Galleon which we did end up in and they do indeed provide a delicious lunch as the book suggested. The walk didn't start off very prettily as we walked through the main carpark, through the council estate houses and along the main road. We then turned off onto a public footway and we were in the coutryside. We followed the path down to Readymoney Cove which is a lovely, secluded little spot with a small beach surrounded by some quaint, stone cottages and some castle-y looking mansions. We did take a photo here but unfortunately it didn't turn out. We followed The Saints' Way path through forest and up onto the open farmland on the top of the cliffs. We took the time to get lost a couple of times as we found the book directions a little hard to follow but what a terrific view of the ocean we got when we emerged onto the farmland. The sun was shining brightly, the sea was blue, gulls were on the wing and the smell of freshly cut grass was in the air. Could this be the beginning of spring at last? We sat on a seat for a while, ate our apples and enjoyed the vitamin D from the sunlight, the smells of the English countryside and the sea breeze.

Continuing on our way, we wound our way down through fields to another beachside B&B spot called Coombe Farm with its stone constructed pond. Ducks dabbled on the water. The walk was getting busier here. "Pitt St!" was one particularly Australian comment. We doubled back toward the east following The Coast Path this time up and down the tops of the cliffs. We found yellow Gorse flowering and took it as more signs that the seasons are turning.

Eventually we were back at Readmoney Cove and this time we walked straight on along the narrow road into the old harbour part of Fowey. Like many of the coastal villages it was all narrow lanes and old, tiny stone houses. We took the side route to see the ruins of St Catherine's Castle which was an artillery fort built by Henry VIII to defend the harbour of Fowey.

We were quite hungry and thirsty when we got to The Galleon pub so we ate and drank well, needing only some toast and tea in the evening. The book didn't say much about finding your car again once the walk was over and that took some doing with another mile and a half walk up

steep hills to get back to the carpark. Selflessly, I undertook the journey alone and then had to creep the car through the narrow lanes and between the tourists in Fowey to try to find my family again which, I did. Then it was away home for a bit of rest because we were a bit tired after our hike.

Some blogs to look forward to: Annie will be blogging her three day school camp to Delaware (near Gunnislake, Tamar Valley, Cornwall...not east coast United States) and we will be blogging our four day Teacher Exchange conference to Northern Ireland which starts on Wednesday.