Marazion

I was awoken like a parent on a Xmas morning by an excited child wanting to rush down stairs to see if Santa had left some presents, only it was my wife asking if I was awake and would I like some tea?. “No thanks “ I reply “ What time is it?”, “Only 7, I’ve been up ages, every thing is packed” she says . A last minute decision to go away for the weekend. 4 hours later we are pulling into the driveway of Dove Meadow Camp site Marazion Cornwall, having stopped half way to have breakfast and a change of driver. I might add as a footnote, not trying to be yet another celebrity chef, or even a chef, but we have just discovered Warburtons sandwich thins, I had tried them during the week with rashes of bacon only this time I toasted one side the filling is pre cooked cumberland sausage with brown sauce, what a difference the toasting makes…..any way thats my top tip.

This morning I am the kid who wants to rush to check the presents, I know what’s inside the wrapper! One of my favourite cycle rides; 6 miles coastal path and road to Mousehole and back. We start soon after a continental breakfast, heading straight for the coast. A path runs for 2.5 miles to Penzance. The going is good and the little 20 inch wheels and 6 gears cope well, however we rarely need more than 4.

It is a further 1.5 to Newlyn where we stop for a cup of tea with a view of the not so busy harbour…….come 4 hours sooner and its a mad house.

40 minutes later we are in Mousehole.	we have lunch sat on a bench above the little harbour and the entrance from which the village gets its name.
A local resident stopped his work for a chat, he showed us the inside of his little cottage that he had lovingly restored. It is fantastic. Should you ever wish to wake up with a view of the sea, this is the place. A small garden in front even allows for al fresco dinning at its very best.
From £3.30- £775 sleeps 5.	Contact: kenjuline.mousehole@talktalk.net

A very late night last night, met some new friends from Buxton ( our next destination) led to a late start……….. Short walk across the causeway to St Michaels Mount today.

The sea had given way to the flood of tourists washing over the cobbled road stretching out to the Island waiting to welcome its guests. We decide due to the amount of people to keep the visit short, venturing into the garden, which is fairly deserted. The Penzance Morris Men are entertaining the masses gathered by the entrance and shop as we leave, crossing the causeway back. Our lunch is a Philps Steak Cornish pasty ( £2.55 each) very nice too, several other dinners joined in the feast as we watch the comings and goings on the beach below.

Not being sure of the weather, no TV, (left Satellite at home, I wonder who's idea that was?) no internet and poor radio. So we wrap up and hope for the best. Its decided to go for a bike ride. Back along the 2.5 miles to Penzance using the coastal path, which proved to be easy to ride the other day.

We stop for some lunch above the harbour of Newlyn. Before we leave we notice a flock of Sea gulls some distance away on the roof

of the fisherman's Net shed. As the birds move away from the nest and start running back and forth a group of small babies can be seen.

A short but steep cycle ride later, and we are entering the National Trust’s Garden of Tregwainton. Tregwainton House remains private whilst the 24 acres of garden are open to explore. Noted mainly for its Rhododendrons, a recent restored walled garden is full of various vegetables and fruit. An exhibition of “Dig for victory” has been created around an Anderson shelter.

Later that evening we do the “Hippy” thing and party on the beach with our new friends. Jane provides some strawberry’s and cream( Rhoda's Cream) and Charlie the alcohol. We build a fire from scavenged wood which sends up a great plume of smoke . Charlie decides to go down to the waters edge to perform some Pagan ritual, but just like King Canute he too could not turn back the tide. I think he also mixed up his chants, as no sooner had he returned then it started to rain abruptly putting paid to our party.

Slide show link: https://picasaweb.google.com/105194178542182166401/Slideshow?authkey=Gv1sRgCLv8grqd2M7I9gE