St Ives and St. Michael's Mount

David , based in the Hamble, is also doing a circumnavigation. In the evening John and I strolled into town and had a beer in the Admiral Benbow. This is really a restaurant with a small bar, but dispensing the best Cornish ales.




Day 23
Tuesday 25th May
Following a suggestion by the harbourmaster I took the train to St. Ives. The train journey was short, and cheap, and very scenic. In no time I was exploring St. Ives. Many mainly German tourists were filling the narrow streets. The whole place was beautifully set off in the cloudless weather. Having walked from one end to the other and sent postcards I partook of cod and chips in a little joint calling itself the Seaview Café The food was of the very best, and served with the utmost cheerfulness by a highly tattooed young lady. Then on to the pier and a chat with an assistant harbourmaster, who pointed out the moorings and advised against coming to St. Ives in any but the calmest weather. Point taken. Then back to the train and Penzance. Stayed in tonight and got cruise log up to date, cleared e-mails, etc.
Day 24
Wednesday 26th May
After breakfast strolled into town and did a little shopping. Posted cards, and returned to the boat. A couple in a Westerly Consort had come back from the Scillies and tied up outside David. He meanwhile had decided to walk to Mousehole, some five miles down the coast. John has a problem with oil levels in engine and gearbox on his yacht, and has been running the engine to try to establish what is happening. He invited myself and the young couple on “Supernaut” to lunch at a pub at the top of the town. Here we had a very good repast of ham, eggs and chips. Then strolled back to the harbour for the last time before moving Pepsand out to the outside of the raft prior to leaving. The Scillies freighter moved out first and then it was time to go. I shall have good memories of Penzance and the people I met there.
The short trip across the bay took only half an hour . Tying up at the little quay was not difficult with a light east wind blowing the boat on. A fleet of little ferries was discharging those German tourists next to the berth. A good trade. To my delight, there is good G3 coverage here, so the blog will be kept up to date.

Day 25
Thursday 27th May
A good night. The boat lay alongside with no banging, and as on the bottom again soon after breakfast. As the gardens and castle did not open before 10.30 I walked over the causeway to Marazion and bought postcards and stamps. It was shaping up to be another hot sunny day. When I came back to the island there was still time to kill, so I had a coffee in the restaurant, then paid up and went in. Of course it is spectacular, and quite a flog to get to the castle level. The accommodation is surprisingly cosy. I could happily live there. The décor is tasteful, and the whole is on a human scale.
The gardens are stunning! The combination of Gulf Stream climate, south-facing slopes and granite bedrock that absorbs heat by day and releases it by night enables semitropical flora to grow here.
Coming down from the garden,still excited by what I had just seen, I spotted a sign from the past. A lady was wearing a jacket the back of which was adorned with the picture of a glider I knew well, the Slingsby T31 Tandem Tutor. I asked her if she knew of the Vintage Glider Club. She replied that she and her husband were members. He turned back and I immediately recognised Jan Forster, a long-standing Dutch member of the VGC. A small world..again!! After talking for a while they agreed to come over to the boat for a cup of tea and chat after they had seen the castle.
This they did, and we spent a happy hour reminiscing and updating. Jan, now chairman of the VGC had been over for a committee meeting, and was spending a few days with his wife holidaying in Cornwall in his camper van.
Shortly after they left the boat floated and I set sail back to Penzance. The harbourmaster was busy rearranging boats in the harbour. Things were not going easily, and I had to wait over an hour to get in. I filled in the time reaching back and forth, and caught three mackerel. These were consumed on Pepsand by myself, Steve and Sarah, the livaboards on Supernaut. I invited them and John Lyne over for a meal which we ate al fresco in the cockpit. John, who does not like mackerel, had sausages, and celebrated by bringing over a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Later we went to the Ship Inn for a quick drink. I had decided to go to Scilly, leaving early morning.

http://www.rnli.org.uk/