Monday 28 April 2008

Cornwall



Well, I have to say that the last week has been superb. Larry was a little star too! The house that we stayed in was a converted mill, very large and secluded. The only sounds were the birds and the cows. At night the sky was peppered with stars (no light pollution there).

Larry had a bit of trouble on the wooden floors so we spent the first couple of days positioning rugs like stepping stones to enable him to get from A to B. He got to grips with it eventually thankfully. But he LOVED the wetroom. Boy did he have some fun in there :o)
As for the weather, we couldn't have asked for better. Most days we were able to walk in t-shirts, eat outside and almost pretend it was summer. One day was drizzly but that's all. Perfect temperature for long walks i.e. not too hot for Larry. That dog has astounded me. I thought that as the week went on we would have to do shorter walks in case he stiffened up, but every day he was up for any walk we wanted. And they were tough walks. Steep gradients and some rough terrain to cover. Larry acted like a sprightly mountain goat! Acutally he put us to shame. My excuse is that I spend too much time sitting on my backside in front of a PC ;o)

The Mill was near Port Isaac, but we spent most of our time further south. We visited Lands End which is sadly now very commercialised. You even have to pay to have a photo taken by the Lands End sign! Sitting in the pub with a telephoto lens worked just as well and didn't cost a penny :o) Once off the beaten track though the coastline was stunning. Most of the walks we did followed the coastline and petered off into the countryside. My favourite walk I think was Prussia cove and Cudden point down in Mounts bay. I could almost see the smugglers dragging their contraband across the rocks into the coves. Quite amazing. We came across a little old lady driving her Toyota soft top down the lanes. She looked well into her 70's and seemed to be having a great time. Hopefully that'll be me in later years!!

We also went to the Seal Santuary down in Gweek. A wonderful day out to see some really worthwhile work AND dogs are welcome! Even a grump like Larry. He wore his muzzle and grumbled like anything at the noise the seals made. Think he enjoyed it really.

Something I have always wanted to do is ride a horse on the beach preferably at a gallop. And I did it...twice! What a feeling....absolutely thrilling!

And of course there was the lunches in beautiful old english pubs. The old cornish cyder was very nice too ;o)




The Mill House


Lizzie, one of the permenant residents at the Seal Sanctuary.


Waiting for feeding time for the seals!



Rocky, the sea-lion. Another permie

Overlooking Bude (I think)


Ray, a braindamaged seal with a thyroid disorder. Seemed a happy chappie despite his problems!

Hurry up with that fish!!!!




Bodicea, who tormented Larry in the underwater observatory by swimming right up to the glass and staring him out!


Taking a break at Lands End




Sitting up here I remember welling up with tears. Thinking and wishing Yogi was with me. Then I realised that had he been here, he would have been attempting to sky-dive off the top! That's when I knew that he WAS there and still making me laugh :o)


Spot the Collie :o)


Dougie the beach horse. Great fun and beautiful too!

.....And so to bed

I hope that he recovers by Friday as we are off to Norfolk!

6 comments:

Lesley Rigby said...

Weren't you the lucky one? Cornwall and good weather! Thanks for all of those beautiful photos - I especially loved to see Larrie's happy face.

I have to say you are good for the Cornish Tourist Board - I have booked a cottage, just south of Newquay, for a week at the end of May. Surfboarding isn't planned!

Fiona said...

Hi Lesley, yes, Larry WAS so happy. He really came out of himself. It was a joy to see! You will have a wonderful time in Cornwall I'm sure. I hadn't been there for 20 years and I wish I hadn't waited so long to return. My turn to be jealous now. You sure you're not surfing? ;o)

HandH said...

Wow, it looks fabulous - and glad Larry didn't decide to go diving! It's all go, isn't it? Hope Norfolk is wonderful, too :-)

Linda Seid Frembes said...

Fiona, you and Larry look so happy... and at peace. I'm glad you had a chance to get away and that you had great weather. Love the photo of you on a horse too!

Unknown said...

Hi Fiona - what a beautiful spot to relax with Richard and Larry and reflect on all that has transpired these past months. I am so glad you were able to get away and to also visit the seal sanctuary too. You can truly see the personality in their eyes. Hope your Mum is feeling well. We send our love and best wishes to you, Malcolm and your family.

Phil said...

Excellent post Fiona and there's some great shots in there too!!!

Loving the hound Larry in the sea :]