Cornwall - Western Discoveries

On Wed 2 July we ate an early breakfast and set off, across the Cornish peninsula,  and drove to Penzance.  Judy has Cornish roots as 2 pairs of great-grandparents came from Penzance. My only connection came from high school when I sang in the chorus of the operetta "Pirates of Penzance".  Penzance exploits the connection, and pirate flags were everywhere. 

Yes, she finally got to Penzance

In Penzance we met Russ Pearce of "Western Discoveries" who drove us to several places of scenic or historic interest, or as part of Cornish "mining heritage" (Judy's forebears were Cornish miners).  Russ was a very friendly, helpful and well-informed tour host and we very much enjoyed our time with him. 

The shells and chimneys of abandoned steam pump houses

The tip of coastal tip of Cornwall is a rather wild place and the miners worked in often inhospitable places. We were astounded to see the remains of mines and the shells of the great steam engine houses in remote places. 

Lighthouse with fog-horns (the black "trumpets" near Cape Cornwall

The mines entrances were just above sea level and
the mines ran out hundreds of meters below the sea

With him we also shared a delicious delicious "cream tea" in the small town of St Just before moving on to Porthcurnow to see the Minack theatre perched on a cliff face looking out to sea.  It was established in the early 1930's and continues to stage summer performances (it'd be awfully bleak in winter!).

After we left Russ we drove to Marazion and at low tide walked along the causeway across the bay to the island of St Michael's Mount, had a traditional pasty, and later visited the fishing port of St Ives which was pretty but packed with tourists (not us! we are enquiring travellers).

Causeway to St Michael's Mount at low tide

The old abbey and more recent "family home" on the Mount

Lunch?  A genuine Cornish pasty, of course.

 On the way back to our B&B lodging in Newquay we came upon a couple of interesting buildings.  There are still a few cottages with thatch roofs in good repair.

 What an inviting pub:  "The Bucket of Blood".  Just one of the many pubs with colourful names.