Well...it was more like, thick grey fog that kept visibility to about 10 feet, soaking wet shoes and socks and stampeding cattle. Adventurous, but not what I had planned!
First stop was Cape Cornwall. At least I think it was Cape Cornwall. I couldn't see it or the ocean. The fog was so thick. This was once also called Land's End (a bit like Lizard Point and Old Lizard Point, isn't it??!!). Anyway, today it is Cape Cornwall and is supposedly very pretty. I guess I'll just buy the postcard. Never mind....there were ancient neolithic sites to be seen. And lots of them. So, the best known of them, Men-an-Tol was only a couple of miles away. Now I know I'm not the best with a map, but seriously, I need a sign or an indication or something, National Trust!! Just give me a bit of a clue!! The Men-an-Tol is a circular stone flanked by two upright stones. It is believed to have been a healing stone with people and babies etc being passed through the hole in the centre stone to cure them of all sorts of ills. Well....it was worth a try. No one was looking! Next it was off to find another standing stone supposedly just up the track of this cattle farm I was on. I could vaguely see it's shape in the distance (no signs and thick thick fog....it was just a guess). There was cattle in this field but with no "Caution. Bull" signs anywhere and the lovely little cows just grazing, it all looked good to me. I mean, how vicious could a cow be, anyway?!?!? One started to walk towards me. How cute....it was coming to say hello. It had a bi of a spring in its step though. Whatever...just walk with purpose and they won't annoy you. Then a few more joined in. Ok...not so good. I'll just wave my arms a bit. Now the whole lot decided to join in, picking up pace the whole time. Yelling, attack pose, throwing around of backpack. Surely that was scary. Apparently not. Just more of a reason to charge. PANIC!!!!!!! I knew I couldn't run but I also know they were about to catch up to me. I bolted the last little bit and just made it to the stile. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I will NEVER get into a field with cows again!!!!
So, with that unneeded event over with (and no upright stone seen), it was time to find the Nine Maidens. Well, if the others proved tough to find, this one was impossible. Literally. Completely out of character, I had to give up and head back to the car. Having driven up the hill a bit and with a couple of false stops on the way, I found Lanyon Quoit, a big capstone on three upright stones. To be fair though, this one isn't entirely original, having been re-errected in Victorian times, but it is rather impressive.
By now I was wet and frustrated, but couldn't resist one more stop.... Chun Castle and Quoit. The old man said it was beautiful up there at dusk, watching he sunset over the ocean. Nice to know. I was lucky to even find the stones!! But, find them I did and it was worth the effort.
With that adventure (sort of) complete, it was off to St Ives to see the bloke and his seven wives. Was he a Mormon or something?? St Ives is utterly pretty with it's tiny lane ways and small harbour. They do love an art and craft shop down in Cornwall, and St Ives is no exception. So lovely to wander around though.
The final part of the day saw the long(ish) drive up to Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast. Watch out, Dr Alan Grant et al....here I come!
Question of the day: Who is Dr Alan Grant?
XXX
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