Southwest Trip - Day Two

On Thursday, 25 October, we left the Exeter Hostel after a proper English Breakfast (the hostel breakfasts aren't half-bad) and headed southwest to St. Michaels Mount. We planned it so we could catch low tide and walk across the beach and causeway to the island. The weather cooperated again and we had a nice visit. Since we were in Cornwall, we had delicious Cornish pasties for lunch. Martin explained to us that the tin miners in Cornwall created the pasty as a meal of veg, spuds, and meat in a single crust that could be taken down in the mines. Arsenic was a byproduct of tin mining and the very thick crust could be held in one hand while the center of the pasty was eaten. The arsenic-tainted crust was discarded, eaten by the rats that subsequently died of arsenic poisoning. Clever. Ours were arsenic-free and very tasty!

We drove back northward to Tintagel, the spectacular castle ruin on the Cornwall coast where King Arthur is purported to have been conceived. (Don't ask me. I don't know how they know.) The setting is fantastic with the howling wind and crashing waves. The sun poked his head through and the day was beautiful. We spent the night at Golant, an eighteenth-century country house that must have been very fine in its day, but is now a hostel. It sits on a hill above the Fowey River and it is lucky Martin was driving or we would be looking for it still. As it began to lighten in the morning we could see how isolated and beautiful the spot is.

Kris with St. Michael's Mount in the background

Enjoying her pasty on the island quay

Our hot and delicious Cornish pasties waiting to be consumed on a chilly day

The incomparable view from the island ruins of Tintagel Castle

The view back to Cornwall from the island

Kris wishing we had something to post from Tintagel village's ancient
post office with its fantastic stone roof

The pre-sun-up view of the Fowey River from Golant, where we spent the night.