After my negative comments about Penzance, it delivered a beautiful blue sky day. It’s amazing how weather can change a feeling. After breakfast we had a wee wander around the surrounding area and enjoyed the early sunshine before setting off.
A shortish travel day allowed us time to pay St. Michael’s Mount a proper visit. From Penzance we rode a flattish ride around Mounts Bay with views over to St. Michael’s Mount with its tidal causeway. Due to the tide we caught a boat over.
Historically, St Michael’s Mount was an English counterpart of Mont-St-Michel in Normandy, France, which we visited last year. It is amazing though, that the St Aubyn family still live in this one after 700 years and use much of it as a home.
The gardens were just lovely, full of many familiar plants and especially those suited to seaside climates.
A really lovely visit, especially enhanced by the weather and our French memory.
Back to our bikes with the road heading inland before reaching Porthleven, another charming fishing village, whose harbour is closed by wooden baulks during storms.
We enjoyed a coffee here before continuing to our hotel at Helston, 6kms further along, due to no vacancy – despite booking last October! It is the most southerly town on the island of Great Britain. Population approximately 11,000.
Along the way we encountered an amusing scene of a silage machine trying to fit down a very narrow lane. The men had chain saws cutting the trees above and beside the lane. Plus a tractor and silage wagons were trying to fit through. Crazy but funny.
These guys were off to cut grass, but we saw a lot of potatoes, pumpkin, maize, barley and cauliflower. Obviously a horticultural area due to this little honesty stall.
A joyful day. Some pretty steep climbs but a short ride. No rain or ponchos. Even managed t- shirts. Apparently Cornwall turns on all the weather. Rather like Canterbury.
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