No Pirates, so far

We bid adieu to London for now. Will definitely return as the list is long of things we weren't able to do.

The train ride to Penzance was great. So amazing to leave and arrive at the times listed on the schedule. What a concept!


The ride gave us the first glimpse of the area we will be walking in for the next couple of weeks. It's absolutely beautiful but all I kept seeing were the lovely rolling hills that seemed to roll a lot higher than I was expecting.

We also learned an important bit of train riding info. As we were approaching the large bridge that spans the Tamar River (border of Devon and Cornwall) the train manager made an announcement. The bridge is under going repairs that involved the building of a platform below the tracks from which the workers can work. As a result, the workers have requested that train riders refrain from flushing the toilets while on the bridge. This elicited a chuckle from most of the riders while I made a mental note NEVER to walk along train tracks.


Penzance is a great little town. I can only imagine how busy and fabulous it must be in the summer. As it is, we have nothing to complain about. It's not raining and not too cold. After our host, Simon, gave us the lay of the land we headed out, and in what I have to consider a huge sign portending a wonderful trip, we discovered an amazing yarn shop with an equally amazing owner. Knit Wits! (Al accidentally had the camera on monochrome, it's not your computer)


We visited with the owner, Julia, and discovered that she holds the official Guiness record for largest knitting needles that can actually be used to knit by a person. Her. The needles were made by an oar maker!





We told Julia about our walk and it turns out that her husband and sons rode their bikes from John o'Groats to Land's End a couple of years ago. She drove their camper van and did the grocery shopping, no small task when teenaged boys riding all day are involved! It was a lovely visit and I picked up a cute cowl pattern of Julia's design! Julia said she'd follow the blog, so "Thanks for the hospitality, Julia! And we look forward to seeing you again!"


We had our first great pub dinner at the Yacht Inn. I had fish (cod) and chips and Al had the "mixed grille". It included steak, back bacon and sausage. I think Ian would approve.

We'll be back in Penzance tomorrow after taking the bus out to Land's End and officially beginning the walk by walking back here!

Location:Penzance, UK