Weather Map coutesy of the Met office
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Day 2 - Portloe - Mevagissey
Author: Dave
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The Storm
A quirky alcove tucked at the bottom of a valley
We woke to the sound of wind blown rain being driven against the windows in waves. This April was already the wettest since 1910 and the result of the jet-stream moving off of it's normal track. We sat and ate our breakfast while watching the trees sway violently in the wind - and we were still in the shelter of a valley ! The breakfast was good, the dining room had a good view and the tea was flowing. Motivation was not forthcoming to leave but we eventually dragged ourselves away from the table.
It was most definitely a waterproofs on from the very start today. We set off into the pouring rain. There's not much else to say about the route other than it was wet. Very Wet ! The rain lashed down and the wind was gusting and blowing some of it up the cliffs at us. The rain came down from above and was driven up by the wind from below, along with the spray from the crashing waves bouncing off the cliff face. Nothing short of wrapping ourselves in shrink wrap was going to keep us dry today, and as we weren't tory MP's that just wasn't on the cards. The paths were either incredibly muddy or flooded - or both. We took respite in any bit of shelter just to rest from the relentless wind driven rain but as we rounded Dodman Point the wind was at the point of taking us off our feet and there was no shelter !
It was most definitely a waterproofs on from the very start today. We set off into the pouring rain. There's not much else to say about the route other than it was wet. Very Wet ! The rain lashed down and the wind was gusting and blowing some of it up the cliffs at us. The rain came down from above and was driven up by the wind from below, along with the spray from the crashing waves bouncing off the cliff face. Nothing short of wrapping ourselves in shrink wrap was going to keep us dry today, and as we weren't tory MP's that just wasn't on the cards. The paths were either incredibly muddy or flooded - or both. We took respite in any bit of shelter just to rest from the relentless wind driven rain but as we rounded Dodman Point the wind was at the point of taking us off our feet and there was no shelter !
The Cross at Dodman point
Our lunch stop was planned for Gorran Haven and we arrived just at lunchtime ready for a sit down in the dry, a sandwich and a hot brew. Unfortunately on this slightly off season dismal Sunday, Gorran Haven was shut. We couldn't find a cafe, open shop and didn't spot a pub. We wandered a little but in the end we took shelter in a doorway and shared a packet of jelly babies which helped but didn't exactly contain one of each of the main food groups and certainly didn't count as one of our 'five-a-day' - not even the orange ones.
Mid afternoon we reached Portmellon which was only about a quarter of a mile away from our B&B. The B&B we couldn't get into until 4:00pm, which meant 2 hours hanging around in this weather. Then, at the end of the harbour we spotted our refuge, a pub called (would you believe) The Rising Sun. If you're American and reading this, that's called irony. But don't worry, you wouldn't understand anyway.
We walked in, dripping all over the stone floor, and asked if we were OK in our current state to sit down. The barmaid suggested we sit by the fire and she would bring us over a couple of pints. Result ! They had finished doing lunches but we had a pork pie and some mustard each as our gear, and ourselves, sat by the fire steaming. A young lad who was the landlords son kept popping over to put more wood and coal on the fire for us.
By the time we left the rain and wind had eased - or maybe a couple of pints had dulled our senses. Not the most enjoyable day of walking but inclement conditions make you appreciate simple pleasures in life such as a hot shower, dry clothes and a warm fire.
I'm sure Pete was pleased with his choice of day off, especially if looked out of the rain lashed window at any point.
