I do love to be beside the seaside!

Clovelly proved a challenge (not as much as it would have before Hadrian's Wall) because the cobbled path from the cliff down to the sea is almost vertical and more then a kilometre down and of course, back up.  There are no cars in the village and goods etc are transported on sleds pulled up and down by hand or on donkeys which also take children for rides.

This is Ernie on the left and Jake at the back.  They have carried a load of materials for a garden down the hill and are having a well deserved snack.

We moved on to Penzance where the sea gulls are bigger then cats and better alarm clocks then clock radios (set for 5 am) where we visited St Michael's Mount.  This island castle and community began as a monastery but for the last 400 years or so has been a family home to a lot of rather odd baronets.  The previous baronet had 15 children by 2 ladies one of whom he married when he was 63.  It is now owned by the National Trust although the present family still occupies part of the castle.  Another incredible walk up over cobbles (and down) to view the chapel and other rooms.

Margaret and Jackie enjoying the gardens - a really incredible sight given the extreme weather and salt laden air with which the gardeners contend.  A special feature of the visit was the very real pride the islanders displayed in their community and the way in which the village, castle and sea front have been conserved.  In the recent storms in February the waves came up over the sea wall, washing out much of the stone work and basements and reaching almost to the second row of houses.  Because of the way the sea wall and island are configured the waves washed around the island, hit the shore and rebounded, rather like a Tsunami.

When the tide is out it is possible to walk to the island via a causeway partly seen here.  Small boats provide transport when the tide is in. 

Margaret conquers the walk to the top of the castle approach ( she doesn't really need to lean on this wall).

We followed our wonderful day of castles, beaches and sea gulls with a truly fantastic dinner at the Tolcarne Inn.  Fish has seldom tasted soooo good.  The menu changes twice a day. According to what the fishermen catch and is prepared by a one star Michelin chef.

Along with the food we "enjoyed" the company of 4 dogs (big dogs), two of whom had been swimming and were quite smelly, also two local artists and a chatty women from Switzerland, about whom we now now more then we need.  The British are very dotty about their dogs which come in all shapes and sizes aNd accompany them everywhere- just about every shop and public place accepts DOGS- many of whom are better mannered then children.

On a last note - this window embrasure was once a garderobes - that is a toilet.  When one needed to go, one sat on a seat and whatever was produced simply ran over the side of the walls and rock.  Today it is a pretty window sea in the alcove.