These days have been like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates. We started off each day, unsure how it will turn out, though with some certainty that it would be pretty good. There have been a few surprises, but mostly on the good side, and all of them add flavour to the journey!
We had been worried about last night’s sleep in our pub called Jacob’s Ladder. Even though I was certain I had carefully researched to find a quiet place to stay in Falmouth on a Saturday night, I had somehow booked us into a room right above the front door of a student pub! Fortunately, it was before the students had returned from their summer break, and the noise wasn’t bad at all. The lumpy mattress was something else though. Fortunately, I had no dreams of God assuring me of his promise to my descendants, as in the original Jacob’s Ladder, which resulted in Jacob naming the place Bethel (Genesis 28).
The 10-mile day that I had mapped was an inaccurate description of the day’s effort, as the first four miles were on two ferries across the estuary. First, we took a medium-sized boat from Falmouth to St. Mawes. Then, we immediately jumped on a small “shuttle,” to take us on to a place with the most imaginative place name I’d come across: “Place”! It was a great way to start the day, and an appropriate way to see a harbour with such a maritime heritage.
We had completed nearly half the day’s distance and barely taken any steps! The legs were happy to start walking around Place, and the eyes enjoyed some fine scenery.
Our next quest was the lighthouse that we had seen from the boat. We could get close, but learned we could stay in an onsite cottage with ruralretreats.co.uk that we need to remember for the future! In the cottage’s listing, they mention that they provide ear plugs for when the lighthouse’s foghorn is going off. We heard one of those earlier on this trip during a misty morning, and they are not quiet!
After the lighthouse, the path climbed steeply, but at the top, a bench with a superb view had our name on it. It was time for the day’s first set of leftovers: prawn crackers from last night’s Chinese takeaway.
After a bit more climbing, we rounded a headland and were greeted with a fine path that led us toward the distant headlands. This was classic idyllic coast path walking, with the perfect views complemented by warming sun and cooling breeze.
As we turned a corner on a headland, we spotted the perfectly located bench, looking out to sea and each way along the coast, and it was empty! It was time for the day’s second set of leftovers. With no cafes on this stretch, we chose to keep some of our full English breakfasts for a great picnic!
After several groups of walkers passed us, we felt we needed to give up the view, and walk the remaining two miles to our destination. We were in no hurry, and hunted perfectly-ripe blackberries that fell when the bush was nudged.
Immediately on arrival in the small village, we found the vibe warm and welcoming, contrasting with Falmouth that had felt less inviting. It’s been difficult to predict the vibe of places we stay in.
Our dinner experience confirmed the positive vibe. We were squeezed into a room with two other tables. An older American couple at one of the other tables provided our entertainment, unbeknownst to them, as they spoke quite loudly, while we hardly heard a peep from a pair of German cyclists sat at the other table. However, the highlight was the food. Our starter of moules mariniere, with mussels from St Austell’s bay, that we walk past in a couple of days, was simply amazing. I enjoyed a fantastic fish pie, and Janet loved her BBQ flatbread. Janet was unable to finish hers, and I was unable to not finish hers, which my stomach regretted for a while!
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 