Hiking Without Supervision

What a trip so far.  The train down from Dundee to London was uneventful and I slept most of the way.  Took the tube from Kings Cross to Paddington and met Murray.  Had a Cornish pasty and a coffee in preparation for the next part of the journey.  The train to Plymouth was not too bad and somewhat empty so we were able to sit together without too much bother.  However, the train from Plymouth to Penzance to an extraordinary amount of time.  I honestly thought it could not go any slower, maybe 25 miles per hour and stopped at every station along the way. We had a good laugh thinking we were in the twilight zone and were destined to be on that bloody train for ever.  It was running a little late and we got to Penzance at 10:30pm.

When we got off the train, it was Baltic.  Wind was blowing and it was not at all what we were expecting.  The Pirate’s Inn was an inexpensive place, but the time of night, the wind and the cold made the one mile to the pub seem like five.

Up early, taped up my toes, got ready to go see St. Michael’s Mount, and then ready for 15 miles to Zennor.  Well, it didn’t actually work out that way.  The wind had grown stronger overnight and was blasting at about 65 mph, thanks to Storm Noa.  We could St. Michael’s mount in the distance and decided to get going before the rain and torrents started.  Had a quick coffee and bacon roll waiting for the but to Land’s End (Delano would have approved).

 As we were waiting the for the bus, the rain came in.  It was blowing sideways and had some sleet.  I thought starting in Cornwall would help me avoid the really bad weather but not today.  The drive to Land’s End was interesting. The Tinner, a double-decker, open top tourist bus, was filled with tourists bundled up for the weather and determined to see the bottom end of the country. They didn’t stay on top for very long.  The roads were so narrow at some points there were bushes hitting the side of the bus.  We had a few v.e.r.y slow passings to try and avoid hitting cars and lorries… how they do this day after day.  

So we all unloaded at Lands End.  O.M.G.  It was basically a hurricane blowing.  And all these tourists, including us, trying to see the Last and First House and get a pic taken at the Lands End sign.  A world-famous sign that shows up in lots of pretty pictures.  Not today.  My pictures didn’t turn out so good, so after a short break in the hotel to get some vitals, we had to go back to the sign to try and take another.  The wind had gotten stronger by this time, if you can believe it, and we could barely get across the driveway.  We finally made our way to the sign again and I was very brave making my 2ay out to the end of the cliff.  Still didn’t get a good picture though because I could barely hold on the the sign and thought I would be blown away at any moment.  Camping was the last thing on my mind.  

There was no way we could walk along the coastal path as planned, it was too slippery and the wind, well you already know how that was.  But, we decided we would go as far as we could on the road and flag down the bus or a taxi in the next little town.  Umm, not so much!  We got out of the parking lot in one piece and turn a corner into the wind.  Nope, no way this was safe.  Like I said, it was a hurricane!  So we got on the bus, totally defeated, and I had to take stock and reassess my expectations.  It was a beautiful drive, narrow country lanes, going past the remains of tin and copper mines, squeezing past oncoming vehicles, jumping each time the wind blew the bus windows or doors open – yes it was blowing hard,.  It was quickly apparent that we would have got killed trying to walk on the road.  Blind turns, driving rain, it would have been really stupid.

We arrived to our hostel in St. Ives and then ventured out to try and get some steps and see the town.  Packed with people visiting on Easter Holidays, braving the beach with their Wellies on.  Surfers loving the waves.  The we turned a corner into a wind tunnel that was throwing up sand.  Yes, sand in our hair, eyes, everywhere.  Could not get out there fast enough.          

So here were are, buckled in for the night and praying that tomorrow the wind will have died down and we can get some miles in, not just some steps.