Sally's Bottom

During this last week we enjoyed a slightly different day visiting the Stithians Country Show. It was like a smaller version of the Royal Cornwall Show we'd attended a few weeks ago (see blog 'Who do we recognise' dated 10th June). Although less grand it had a more personal feel to it although there were still thousands of folk in attendance.

We wandered round viewing prize cattle including huge magnificent bulls, cows, sheep, goats, even guinea pigs, ducks, chickens etc. you name it...it was there! We watched displays on fly fishing, hawk-flying and Cornish wrestling, visited stalls offering free tasting sessions, anything from cheese to sausages to wine, to chocolate and fancy bread. There was show jumping on offer, the chance to visit the horticultural marquee, numerous crafts stalls and loads more. There was genuine local feel of a rural community in action enjoying itself. 

Naturally we continued our walking this week including a beautiful coastal stretch from Porthreath to Porthtowan. It included wonderful purple clusters of heather plus the usual crashing waves below  and rugged cliffs above. Along the way we encountered 'Sally's Bottom'! Indeed, Ruth found a geocache in Sally's Bottom! Clearly this name tickled us! Sally's Bottom is another wonderful cove situated about a mile along the coast from Porthtowan. However, the most breathtaking sight was reserved for the beach at Porthtowan itself where the sea majestically pounded the shore with huge waves which seemed to stretch along the sand for miles.

The next day we visited Glendurgan Garden at Mawnan Smith near Falmouth. It's a beautiful garden of three valleys, running down to a sheltered beach at Durgan on the Helford River. Within it we enjoyed a wonderful maze. I challenged Ruth to see which of us could reach the centre the quickest! Needless to say I lost miserably! It was a perfect example of the over enthusiastic confident hare verses the thoughtful, wise tortoise!!! Story of my life!

Later we walked another short stretch of the Coastal Path before having an evening dip in the sea on the outskirts of Falmouth. Afterwards we watched with interest as a group of about 30 life guards did some fitness training. Their stamina was astonishing as they raced each other in various ways, swimming, canoeing and using surf boards. It was very impressive reminding me how old and comparatively unfit I am! 

Well... we maybe unfit compared to the life guards, however, we still want to get round as much of the coastal path as we can! So the next day we drove to Wheal Coates. Initially we walked out to St Agnes Head. It was glorious sunny day and the scenery didn't disappoint... totally spectacular!

After Ruth had chatted up the man in the Coast Watch Station and found another Geocache we wandered back to Porth Chapel for a tasty lunch at the beach-side cafe before heading off in the other direction across the cliff tops to Porthtowan. On arrival the tide had moved sufficiently for us to then walk back along the beach to Porth Chapel for a well deserved 'hedgehog ice cream'. 

Finally we made it into the sea for a truly amazing swim. It was a little bit rough to say the least and we found ourselves being battered by some magnificent waves. At times it was literally breathtaking!

With Ruth being Ruth the day wasn't finished as we drove on to a park just outside Redruth before scaling Carn Brea (actually it was just a short stroll). The views at the top were worth it overlooking Redruth, the surrounding countryside and the coast... a truly amazing site in the evening sunshine. We enjoyed an evening picnic in the rock basins.

Later in the week we swam at our regular haunt off Perranuthnoe Beach. As I left the sea at the end of our swim I unfortunately got stung by a Weaver Fish. It was like a nasty bee sting on the sole of my foot. Fortunately the wonderful life guards were on hand and after some simple first aid... soaking my foot in 'almost' boiling water... my brush with Jaws was resolved!

On Saturday we walked another stretch of Coastal path filling in from Porthoustock to Coverack and back before returning to Coverack in the car for an evening swim. It was a glorious warm and sunny day and once again the scenery was beautiful but we were so hot it came as a relief to enter the sea towards the end of our day out.   

Perhaps the highlight of this week was attending a Cornish evening at our local church of music, words and a Cornish Pasty supper. We had a super time listening to a local band singing Cornish and more familiar songs, a local character called Tony Jasper (look him up Tony Jasper) did a kind of stand up comic piece, we all participated in a Cornish quiz and enjoyed chatting with a couple sitting next to us. However, the highlight of the evening had to go to Irene, a lovely endearing elderly lady (who I just happen to sit next to each Sunday) who stood up and delivered the most hilarious and comic poem! We had a truly brilliant time and have felt so welcome amongst this small and extremely friendly rural church community.

Sunday saw us attend our penultimate service at  Church. We've been careful not to reveal anything about our involvement at church back home so it was a real honour this Sunday to unexpectedly be asked to take up the elements for the Communion part of the service!     

         

As we come to the end of this week I'm conscious we're drawing near to the end of our time in Cornwall. We arrived on 14th May and on 30th July we leave! Both Ruth and I have experienced such an amazing adventure coupled with a time of rest, relaxation, peace, reflection and tranquility. However, we recognise this can't go on forever. Soon we'll be returning home to our family, friends, church family and work colleagues.

This little place in Cornwall has felt like our temporary home. However, it is not our home because home is where our loved ones are. And yet even out home in Chineham is not permanent. Nothing in this life is! I believe our true and ultimate home is eternal. I was reminded this week of how Jesus said to His disciples: “My Father’s house has many rooms . . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). He could have used other words to describe heaven. However, He chose words that describe not an uncomfortable or unfamiliar place but a place where Jesus, our loved One, would be.  

Life in Cornwall has been brilliant and we've still got one more week to go. We feel hugely blessed and hopefully we'll experience more amazing times in the future. But for the moment I'm encouraged by a quote from CS Lewis which I also read this week: “Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” We can thank God for the “pleasant inns” in life, but let’s remember that our real home is in heaven where we “will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). 

And finally Ruth has completed 200 Geocaches since we've been here!!!