Tuesday, 31st March 2015 (Day 2, week 13)
Hello
Did you miss me? You may have noticed there’s been very little walking lately, last week being a wash-out both time and weather wise. No matter – I’m back and hoping to make progress this week.
Continue reading
Wednesday, 25th March 2015 (Day 3, week 12)
Hello
I’ve been ‘trapped’ this week, unable to get out and walk, so when the opportunity arose late this afternoon to escape, I did! Continue reading
Sunday, 22nd March 2015 (Day 7, week 11)
Hello
We took a walk in the sunshine, near Coverack this afternoon. We parked at Roskilly’s and were just setting off when Mr RR suggested we get an ice cream to eat along the way. So we did! It was scrumptious!
Saturday, 21st March 2015 (Day 6, week 11)
Hello
What a glorious day again.
I seem to have recovered from yesterday’s tumble so we took a walk into Helston to sort a few things out and then, after a cup of tea, walked back again in time for the last day of the 6 nations rugby.
Enjoy reading
Rickety
Target: 1000 miles in one year (20 miles a week)
Achieved so far: 241.9 miles (target 220 miles)
Achieved this week: 18.2 miles
Porthleven to Helston via Penrose Estate and return (7 miles)
We take our usual route to the Penrose Estate, heading for the far side of the lake and the path into Helston. On the calm water are Pochard and Great Crested Grebe and along the path we catch sight of a Grey Wagtail. Otherwise birdlife is difficult to spot, as the pathway is busy with people out enjoying the weather.
The daffodils and primroses continue to bloom all along the route and there is the promise of bluebells to come in the woodland.
We reach Helston and cross the road to walk alongside the lake admiring the lovely Golden Weeping Willow on the island in the middle.
There are Tufted Ducks, Swans, a Cormorant and Mallards on the lake. The mallards are frisky and searching for partners and we watch as one poor female is mobbed by several males, eventually making her way to land to take a break from the frenzy.
Having completed our errands in Helston we walk back down to the lake and sit outside the cafe with coffee and teacakes watching the action. Most of the swans are out of the water now, preening and hoping for food. These are Mute Swans but there is one Whooper which arrived in the Winter and has stayed around.
Soon we’re back on the Penrose Estate path heading for Porthleven, passing the Penrose Estate House and the ‘mock’ Roman Bath House which is sited a few hundred yards away from the main house. It was the owner of the house, a Lt. Cdr Rogers who gave Loe Pool and the surrounding land as far away as Gunwalloe Church Cove to the National Trust in 1974. His one request was that Loe Pool should be kept for the people to enjoy, ‘without distraction’. Isn’t that lovely?
Associated artwork for Ricketyrambler by Andrew Major:
http://www.andrewmajorart.co.uk
http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/Andrew-Major
Friday, 20th March 2015 (Day 5, week 11)
Hello
What a lovely day it is here! The sun is shining and the birds are singing and all is well with the world – except I’m a bit more rickety! You know what I’m like…..always falling down! Not much damage, thankfully, just some bumps and bruises – ouch! Continue reading
Wednesday, 18th March 2015 (Day three, week 11)
Hello
It’s a lovely Spring day here with blue skies and a warm sun.
We took a trip to Trengwainton Garden in Penzance, a National Trust garden with 25 acres of walks and Spring flowers. It was splendid! Continue reading
Tuesday, 17th March 2015 (Day 2, Week 11)
Hello!
It’s week 11 guys and I’m still going!! I’ve surprised myself with my persistence!
What’s the weather like where you are? It’s a lovely afternoon here.
And what a heavenly morning Mr RR and I had, starting with a walk around Mylor Bridge and Restronguet Creek, followed by lunch at The Olive Grove Bistro and a little shopping at Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts. What could be better! Continue reading
Sunday, 15th March 2015 (Day 7, week 10)
Hello everyone
More colour today! There were daffodils everywhere – on top of walls, in gardens, in hedgerows, on the road side and in fields. And daffodils in the woods too – it was quite a woody walk today. Continue reading
Friday, 13th March 2015 (Day 5, Week 10)
Hello,
I’ve got my head full of colour today.
I went out for coffee this morning (thank you Ms D and Ms S!) and had a lovely lemon poppy seed cake full of a raspberry pink sauce, with raspberries on top. Then I went to the fabric shop and bought some rich red cottons in two different shades – I couldn’t make up my mind which one to have – anyway you can never have too much fabric! At home I sat in the yellow conservatory and looked out at the yellow daffodils in the garden.
I’m not usually a yellow person, but I seem to quite like it lately – as long as I don’t have to wear it! Continue reading
Thursday, 12th March 2015 (Day 4, week 10)
Hello!
Today it’s raining! Never mind, we’ve had a good tramp around The Lizard with our waterproofs on.
It feels like a long way because its so uppy and downy (yes, those are real words), and then you find you’ve only done 5 miles which is a bit of a let down. Still, every little helps.
Enjoy!
Ricketyrambler xx
Target: 1000 miles in one year (20 miles a week)
Achieved so far: 213 miles (Target 200)
Achieved this week: 12.3 miles
The Lizard circular via Church Cove, Lizard Point and Old Lizard Head (5.3 miles)
Today we are followed all around the most southerly part of the Lizard Peninsula by the haunting sound of the Lizard Lighthouse foghorn, bellowing out it’s sonorous warning every 30 seconds. We plan to walk around the headland starting at Lizard village; it’s raining and foggy and it feels like winter all over again.
Leaving the village, strangely silent and dreary in the fog, we head for Church Cove with its charming thatched cottages and pretty gardens, and then turn right to climb up the steep hill and along the coast path towards Kilcobben Cove and the Lizard Lifeboat Station. A look behind us and across the cliffs, reveals the path to Cadgwith that we walked last week. Ahead, the grassy cliff tops and rugged coastline are hazy in the fog, although for a very brief while the foghorn stops and we wonder if the skies are clearing.
The Lizard Lifeboat Station sits 140 feet down at the bottom of the cliff in Kilcobben Cove. When the boat needs to be launched the crew must run down more than 200 steep steps from the car park and visitor centre at the top to the boathouse itself.
As we reach the top of the hill and walk past the Lifeboat Station a group of seven or eight cormorants fly across the water in tight formation – a ‘swim’ of cormorants. As we walk on we see many more, some huddled on rocks and others flying solo around the cliffs. We soon reach Bass Point, the site of the Coastguard Station with the Lloyds Signal Station sitting behind it. The signal station was opened in 1872 and sent and received messages by flag, to and from ships passing the point. It was of limited use on days like today however, and when another company set up its own station next door there was, predictably, lots of confusion for shipping. Common sense eventually prevailed and the offices were amalgamated in 1875. By 1877 more than 1000 ships a month were using the services of the signal station. The building is now owned by the National Trust and privately leased as residential accommodation.
The foghorn continues as we make our way down over the cliffs at Housel Bay and back up the other side, towards the lighthouse itself, which is signalling its warning by a flashing white light every 3 seconds. The Lizard Lighthouse is the most southerly on land in Britain and has a checkered history, originally established in 1619 amid much official opposition, as it was thought that it would guide enemies and pirates to land. Sir John Killigrew eventually erected the lighthouse at his own expense but the cost of maintaining it nearly bankrupted him.
Passing the lighthouse we make our way down over the hill, past some National Trust workers precariously perched on the cliff edge mending fences, and into Polpeor Cafe for a cup of tea. The views from the cafe are fantastic and even though its foggy we can see the gulls and cormorants perched on the rocks in the sea. As we watch, a small trawler makes its way between the rocks, rising on the choppy waves and then crashing down until it seems as if it may disappear underwater at any minute. The whole cafe is mesmerised as we watch its progress until, having safely navigated the point it disappears from view.
Onward for us across Lizard Point and the climb upwards towards Kynance Cove. As we make our way up the steps and across the cliffs we keep an eye out for the pair of ravens that we saw last time I was walking this way with Ms B. They’re not around today however. Instead, we’re excited to see…..a pair of choughs! Pecking around in the grass just ahead of us, with their long red downcurved bills and their purply black plumage, they stay long enough for us to take a good look with the binoculars before sensing our presence and taking flight down over the cliffs. I am well-chuffed (haha!!).
The excitement keeps us going on up the hill and across the marshy grass at Caerthillian Cove. Here we turn inland and cross a couple of stiles and a field before climbing on to the drystone wall which supports the track back into Lizard Village, accompanied all the way by the bellowing foghorn.
Associated artwork for Ricketyrambler by Andrew Major:
http://www.andrewmajorart.co.uk
http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/Andrew-Major
ricketyrambler 