Dave Crossing Gillan Creek
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Day 7 - Porthallow - Falmouth
Author: Dave
Statistics:
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Two river crossings
Jason crossing Gillan Creek.
The day was already getting warm by the time we left the B&B after a fine breakfast. We wandered back down to the beach and headed back up the slope to the coastal path. We walked over low cliffs which were semi wooded and offered welcome shade from the sun. It was only a short walk from the first inlet of the day, Gillan Creek. Unlike most of our other crossings to date, this one had no ferry option. We had to either walk around or, if the tide was out, we could use some stepping stones to get across the two or three shallow streams.
We reached the inlet and then followed the path round through the wooded slopes far enough up river to allow us to cross. The tide was out and so the water in the creek was only 8 to 10 inches deep - but we were only a couple of miles into the day and walking with wet feet for for the remainder wasn't an attractive propersition.
This is where the walking poles that Jason had carried all week came in useful. I used them to make the first crossing of the first tributary and they were damn useful because the stepping stones were covered in pond weed and were as slippery as a well oiled snake. Once across I threw them back over to Jason javelin style. I suspect from my effort I won't be picked for the Olympic squad. We both managed to make it across all tributaries without getting wet which was a good start to the day.
We followed the easy going path round to our next crossing; this time it was the Helford river. No chance of wading this though, we had to turn the sign round so the boatman could see there was someone waiting. We sat on the wooden pier in the sun waiting for the man and his boat to come across and then duly paid him the silver penny to ferry us over to the other side. Once accross we carried on along a good path that was easy walking towards Falmouth. We were making very good time and paused at the old fort ruins on Pendennis point and had a brief doze in the sun as the hotel had contacted us to say they weren't going to be there until after five that evening.
We reached the inlet and then followed the path round through the wooded slopes far enough up river to allow us to cross. The tide was out and so the water in the creek was only 8 to 10 inches deep - but we were only a couple of miles into the day and walking with wet feet for for the remainder wasn't an attractive propersition.
This is where the walking poles that Jason had carried all week came in useful. I used them to make the first crossing of the first tributary and they were damn useful because the stepping stones were covered in pond weed and were as slippery as a well oiled snake. Once across I threw them back over to Jason javelin style. I suspect from my effort I won't be picked for the Olympic squad. We both managed to make it across all tributaries without getting wet which was a good start to the day.
We followed the easy going path round to our next crossing; this time it was the Helford river. No chance of wading this though, we had to turn the sign round so the boatman could see there was someone waiting. We sat on the wooden pier in the sun waiting for the man and his boat to come across and then duly paid him the silver penny to ferry us over to the other side. Once accross we carried on along a good path that was easy walking towards Falmouth. We were making very good time and paused at the old fort ruins on Pendennis point and had a brief doze in the sun as the hotel had contacted us to say they weren't going to be there until after five that evening.
Gillan Creek
After our brief rest we trotted on to cover the last couple of miles as the day started to cloud over. We could tell we were coming back towards a town as we started to see a few chavvy 'yoofs' loitering with intent with their can of cider in hand to drink on the way home from school. After a week in the middle of nowhere for the most part, civilisation (and I use the term loosely) comes as a bit of a culture shock.
We checked into the hotel and then had a wander into town for some dinner, stopping at another TV featured pub on the way. This one was on Oz Clark and James May's tour of british pubs and was described as having character. It was a dump ! part of the ceiling had fallen in and progress to the bar was slow due to my shoes sticking to the floor. We had a disappointing pint and then went for a curry. The evening picked up when we found a pub with a live band who proved to be rather good. Needless to say we finished the week as we had started it with a headache after a good night of live music and fine beer.
We checked into the hotel and then had a wander into town for some dinner, stopping at another TV featured pub on the way. This one was on Oz Clark and James May's tour of british pubs and was described as having character. It was a dump ! part of the ceiling had fallen in and progress to the bar was slow due to my shoes sticking to the floor. We had a disappointing pint and then went for a curry. The evening picked up when we found a pub with a live band who proved to be rather good. Needless to say we finished the week as we had started it with a headache after a good night of live music and fine beer.
