Day 18 - Mylor, Portscalo, Portloe

Saturday 3rd August
Total: 348+m  / Daily: 18m  / Blue Skies / Boat Ride

I forgot to elaborate on growling bushes from yesterday. I've been looking at the blackberry bushes for a while now, mostly green berries, some turning red but nothing black yet. However, yesterday I started seeing a few black berries. Assuming they'd all be bitter I ignored the temptation but one bush was covered with black, large, juicy looking berries. They were higher up and on top of the bush but I could reach, standing right up against it and leaning in slightly. It was at that point a heard a loud, deep growl from very close by. I have absolutely no idea what animal was there, but it was beside my feet and growling, I carried swiftly on!
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Showered, rested, dry and thoroughly content was my mood this morning. And that was before Ivor cooked up a storm. Breakfast bagels, with bacon, egg, peppers, mushroom, cheese & chilli sauce. Very American and very delicious. We left the dock mid morning with everyone coming for the ride. The guide gives details of the two ferries needed to cross the estuary. Only need one when the service is being provided for you! I said my goodbyes at Place and got back to it, psychologically prepared for a wet day after looking at Erica's iPad weather. Thank you very much to the Scott's for their hospitality.

Four hours into the baking sun I wondered where the rain was. Ah, those black clouds offshore probably have something to do with it... We'll see.

I walked until late looking for a spot to camp and ended up stumbling upon Gorran Haven. Not keen to walk through the village and out the other side, I pitched on the next flat patch of grass overlooking the harbour. 18 miles is too much for an 11am start, I was shattered and fell asleep very quickly not bothering to inflate my sleeping pad.

Day 13 - Zennor, Pendeen

Total: 246+m / Daily :18m  / Rain clearing to Blue Skies / Tired

Tired after yesterday's huge day. Lots of mining works today and I passed Levent mines which had one of the first beam engines installed to pump water. Trevethick's (sp.?) influence spread very quickly across all of industry with steam really firing the industrial revolution into action. I had a brief look around the museum and studied the inch:foot working replica desparately trying to understand the rod operated value system which equalise pressure in the cyclinder. I finally got it, much easier to understand than the incredible beam engine on the Kennet Canal, that rod system blew my mind with its complexity.

Fell asleep behind a wall in the shade and fell asleep again whilst taking a break from the 'oh so hard' task of pitching my tent. It was windy all day today, I think that constant exposure to the elements helped to sap my energy. Not the case for Annie at Cape Cornwall car park! This national trust representative is exactly what is neded at such a bleak and exposed bit of land. We had a lovely chat about life/IoM/Cancer etc. and I was able to fill my water bottles there. Thank you so much Annie for brightening my otherwise rather dull day, expect that postcard once I return home in a month.

Camped next to a mine shaft and it rained for most of the night.