Day 49 – Mevagissey to Looe

 

Date: Tueday 22^nd June 2010   Distance: 28.27 Miles

 

We enjoyed our breakfast hopelessly watching for dolphins. Once on the road we bypassed St Austel and took a tea break at Tesco’s as other places had nowhere to leave tandem. We came upon a very nice cycle way and were surprised that we could make it part of our journey. It went through woods, by a stream and campsite- completely traffic free. There weren’t so many of these in Cornwall near the coast.

We took a ferry from Fowey to Bodennic. Huge ships were piloted across our bow as we went over. We decided we didn’t like Fowey. It was full of quaintness, but for example ,the bank closed at 1 pm ,though we did use it’s frontage for parking as there was nowhere else suitable.for a large heavy bike. There was such a lack of space, cars had to stop for people walking ,let alone the bike. The tea shop was 14^th century but Pat couldn’t drink her tea because it smelt of bleach. The waitress reminded me of the receptionist in Doc Martin as she had just had her cards read and was missing opportunities apparently.

 

Up from the ferry we had 20 minutes of quiet road before the next influx of cars. It was less of a hill than at King Harry and then came many lovely lanes until we reached Lanreath for a friendly place ,The Punchbowl Inn. Bob was offered a taster of the landlady’s favourite brew. Pat visited the church opposite that was full of perfumed bridal flowers. It could have been a flower festival. It sounded like the local community were all involved from the collection box in the pub. Managed to post some cards here while the post lady waited for “time”.

 

Bob was keen on finding a bridleway that would take us into Looe and we had almost given up after several false tracks when we found it much much later than expected. It was rather rough, tough and hilly with a lot of walking on the boggy bits. Much better though than going up the narrow road .It came out in Looe at the estuary and near a massive out of town car park which caused some misgivings. The quay split Looe in 2 halves and is an interesting place full of character and characters. There were many fishing boats of various sizes and on the quay side sheds for icing and weighing the fish. The tide was out and the area had more than its fair share of egrets. Pat watched what she thought was a seal a little way out to sea until someone burst her bubble and pointed out a snorkel and black rubbered arm above the sealine.

 

We found the B and B where the tandem was taken through the kitchen into the backyard but then we were taken to another house a little way down the road that adjoined it. Still a family house but not quite what we expected especially when we had breakfast on our own in the couple’s living room while Australian guests took up the dining room. We believe we were overspill in the B and Bs son’s house.

Anyway though strange it was a good location for the harbour and pub where we spent a couple of hours listening to and joining in with sea shanties yet again with a group of people called Minor Quay. We were ushered in to sit at their table and we wonder if it was a case of mistaken identity. Pat was congratulated for her singing in Falmouth night when we hadn’t yet reached the location, mistaking her for one of the singers in the festival. Perhaps this was happening again and then realising their mistake they gave up eye contact- perhaps in case Pat offered to sing. It was a good night though and we had very good seats!