CORNWALL, DAY 3: 5th JULY 2020...

Sunday 5th July:

I was up early and out by 7.40am, walking along the sea wall and watching the flying show performed by gannets, which was mesmerising. The weather had improved, despite one or two periods of threat from leaden clouds and thus few folks were about at that time. It didn’t rain though and I explored the village then the low-tide harbour, before the shop opened at 9am and I was able to acquire a Sunday newspaper. Returned to the caravan for breakfast and another, more sedate mooch around Mousehole was enjoyed in even better weather before I squeezed crumpets into the meagre toaster for lunch in the caravan, as the grill had refused to light. 

Sunshine dominated much of the afternoon, although a stiff wind accompanied the brightness and after a surprisingly disappointing call to check out birds on Hayle’s low-tide estuary, finding only an egret and a few curlews amongst a host of gulls and a crowd of crows. 

The next stop would be at Praa Sands, a place I have only visited once and then only to take refreshment. 

The beach was huge there, the sea was turquoise, surfing was taking place and lifeguards were on duty. Walking the length of the beach was exhilarating despite the strong wind blowing across the sands. There was even a dead tree on the beach, not a common sight but Praa Sands looks like a decent place to use in good weather and next time I holiday in the far south-west, I’ll bring my bodyboard to use at this beach.

Fuel and some food were collected with some difficulty at Sainsbury’s in Penzance but the bright weather continued… 

Another walk along Mousehole’s sea-wall allowed me a good view of plunging gannets but the harbour area was busy, with people queueing for ice-cream, kids jumping into the high-tide harbour water, swimming in it and paddling too, despite the warnings about sewage… 

On my way back from the village, a family of four was, er, cycling along the sea-wall, which is not easily accessible for bikes, plus it’s two metres wide and used mostly by dog walkers and strollers…

But the breezy, cloudy and sunny afternoon continued… 

A later walk found Mousehole deserted for the most part, which was a delight. A couple of fishing vessels had left Newlyn to find whatever shoals they were after and still the gannets circled, swept and plunged…