One day in heaven

The above shot was taken on my birthday, treating myself to a Cornish cream tea in the most southerly café in England. Although I have been there for the last 30 years, at least once a year, I would always go back. When I drive down to the tiny carpark the deep blue water appears, with added rocks, birds and a few seals. I used to park at the main car park but health makes it difficult due to the steep paths.

We had an unusual treat this year, outside the café there was an archaeological dig. Apparently a child had found a tooth, he gave it to a volunteer nearby and that led to the digging into a large grave. They were digging out a rib cage when we went past, i believe there was many people in there. Being one of the most popular places in the area to visit, thousands have walked on the grave over many years.

The dig is in the above photo, you can see how shallow the skeletons were.

Every year I have stayed about 5 miles from here, I would love to spend a full 24 hours here. The beach is only accessible when the tide is out, the cafes open to a time table and there's no where official to stay. I would maybe try for a small mobile home or big car, and camp in one of the car parks. Due to lack of buildings to hide behind the sun is shining for a long time in the summer months. There are plenty of places to take in various views, a long list of wildlife appear during the day. A list is made at one of the huts to say what had been spotted during the day.

I always try a gentle walk down to the beach, even though the walk back up is murder. On the way down is an old army observation hut, the old lifeboat station and a number of small boats that go out from here.

I have often sat or stood at various places around here and lost myself. Staring out to sea mainly, especially if on the beach. The group of rocks out to sea are a good spot to see any seals in the area. They will often come ashore for a sun bathe. You can sometimes sea them swimming but you only then see a head. You will then find yourself staring at rocks, birds or nothing, thinking it could be a seals inquisitive head.

The shops near the beach are basic, selling gifts and ice creams. There are 3 cafes and plenty of places to walk. If you stop in the main shopping area , you will find numerous shops, full of gifts, sugar filled treats and plenty of tempting gifts.

Every time I go to this part of Cornwall , I know i want to tick off 3 or 4 places that I go every time. If I do nothing but those things I am satisfied with my time away. Also, thanks to fuel prices being so high we cant travel to far, especially after covering 200 miles to get there.

I'm treating my wife to 2 weeks in Florida next year for a big birthday. I still want my time in Cornwall, its easy to find plenty to do and plenty of places to do nothing. I have visited something like 12 other countries, none I would do over Cornwall. We stop at the same places on the way down, same on the way back. All is good in the world, even when it feels like we had been there 5 minutes before heading home.

This year was largely spent resting. sleeping and occasionally watching the world cup. We live with my in-laws, so a 6 berth caravan is luxury. There's food and drink on site, not that we used any this year. We had a few takeaways and made our own otherwise. We didn't feel any pressure to do anything or to go anywhere. The world kept moving around us, we just didn't feel like joining it very often.

In fact now I have written this I will try and persuade my wife that we should go again next year. No world cup so can see the sites, many we have seen before. Florida means feeling obliged to do things because you bought tickets to the parks, you worry you have wasted money if you dont do enough to justify the price.

Cornwall has stuff if you want it. Two of the best trips were to tiny animal rescue centres. My wife spent one trip talking to a parrot for an hour, in the other she fed llamas and brushed a goat. Always perfect, always nearby and where I want to be every year.