Hill 107: Konnichiwa Cornwall

Thurs 23rd June.

"Do you want to go to St Michael's Mount?"

"Not really"

"There's a samurai suit there."

"Hold me back"

Breakfast conversation this morning.As you can tell I'm not easy to persuade.

"So what's on St Michael's Mount?"

"Plenty of history,suits of armour,s**tload of cannons,oh and a stack of Chinese!"

Just when it was going well.

So off we headed to St Michael's Mount just off the village of Marazion(which I'm led to believe is Hebrew for Jewish market).Due to the village having narrow streets parking was outside the village and from there we headed,on foot,towards the pier where small boats were ferrying people across to the island.This was due to the tide being in and by the time we had finished our tour the tide was out meaning we could walk back along the causeway.

Mini Dunkirk

We clambered into a small boat and ventured onto the island and headed along the pier towards the entrance .

"And I will walk 500 miles"

The island is managed by the English Heritage meaning our Historic Scotland passes meant we had free entry.Once again people these memberships are a god send providing you're not one of Scotland's millions of couch potatoes.

Mousehole in the distance.

Cannons to the left of her,cannons to the right.

Have to pay for the holiday somehow.

Very well spaced out gardens before the steep walk to the castle which culminated in some nice well planned rooms and exhibits making for a very pleasant morning.This all came together for me with the samurai suit and complementing Japanese swords.

Ah Tim san.

Looks like a good uniform for checking tickets on my train.

There is plenty of history in this place from it's conception in medieval times right through to it's modern form as a tourist attraction and haven for Chinese tourists.

Early 16th century armour.

Various rifles including a Martini Henry

English Civil War armour

After a very nice morning visiting St Michael's mount we headed back over the causeway towards Marazion in search of some nice hostelery which we found in the shape of The Rosario offering very nice fresh crab sandwiches washed down by Diet Coke as I just wanted something cold and quick.

Memorial to H.M.S.Warspite

We headed back through the village towards the carpark passing a memorial to H.M.S. Warspite on the way.This old girl survived two world wars only to come to a sticky end on the rocks of nearby Prussia Cove whilst on its way to the breakers.The irony is that it took all the German's threw at her during both wars only to come to grief in a place with a Teutonic name.

According to this sign Charles II stayed in this house before heading for the Scilly Isles after Battle of Naseby.

While enjoying the very tasty crab sandwich Lady Watson came up with her next starter for ten.
"How do you fancy going down a mine?"
"Whit!(Scottish for pardon me)"
"There is a Poldark mine not far from here"
"I might have guessed."

Which do I choose?

The Poldark mine,once again where scenes were shot,is situated in the village of Trenear,near Helston.We got into the car and headed for Helston passing R.N.A.S Culdrose on the way.I've seen more of this naval base more in the past two days than I've seen in my puff'.The good thing was that the mine was well signposted.The only sign they didn't show you was the one that said that it was just closing as we arrived.Guess I'll be back here tomorrow.

Like me -Lost and forlorn!

Since that plan had been scuppered I suggested a trip to Falmouth for a spot of dinner and a wee peruse round the town.Oft we toddled and drove to Falmouth which in my opinion is that it's just one great big marina which had me drooling like a rabid dog with all the boats on display...Sure enough the whole town seems to be directed towards a life on the ocean wave with pubs right up to the water's edge.We parked in one of these new fangled car parks were you have to phone up to pay for your space if you have no change.Daylight robbery.As we headed into town we passed one of Rick Stein's Fish and chip shops.£8 for a fish supper.Nightime robbery.

"I must go down to the see again"

We walked through the pedestrian precinct looking at all the souvenir shops(very pricey)wondering what kind of meal we fancied when I spotted a nice local restaurant,Chinese!In we trotted and enjoyed one of the best Chinese meals we've had this side of Honk Kong.
Suitably fed and watered we returned to the car ready for the drive home when I spotted a sign for Pendennis Castle.Looks like the evenings entertainment was taken care of.

"Knock knock!-Who's there?

Pendennis Castle is situated on the southern outskirts of Falmouth defending the Carrick roads waterway on the River Fal..It was built by Henry VIII as one of the defences against France and the Holy Roman empire and has been updated since then and is now home to a coastguard station.Being evening we couldn't get inside so had to content ourselves with a walk round the now dry moat which led us down to the sea passing a WWII battery complete with a preserved Bofors gun and some heavy gun barrels which could have come straight from Navarone.