OUR OWN DAY

                                    Scraping the Itinerary

       England was coping with a big epidemic of hoof and mouth disease so many people had cancelled their trip. However, it did not hamper our trip in any way and I was glad I stuck with my plans.

     One day in Cornwall, England the ten of us all found the day’s itinerary  unappealing. At breakfast as a group we decided that we wanted to scrap the original plans and do something else. I was sort of elected spokesman of the group and our decision  stymied our guide. However, she was a trooper and turned the day into a marvelous one for us.

     We started the day by hiking down a lovely deserted lane. The narrow paved road was covered with a natural canopy of natural trees and vines that had reached across the road and tangled into a wonderful cover. A footpath at the end of the road led us to a deserted sandy beach. Another footpath brought us to a quaint village where the houses were topped with picturesque thatched roofs.

     Both paths ambled through areas of lush vegetation where many wildflowers were in bloom. But at the village we found the next footpath closed because of the cow epidemic.  The guide used her cell phone to call the van driver to come pick us up.

     Looking at a map, the driver discovered we were not far from a seal sanctuary. There I saw several species of seals I had never seen before. Often babies would be bashed against the rocks in the rough waters, so the sanctuary often has nearly a full house.

      Laughingly I often ask people if they know anyone who has ever been to Qweek, England. Following narrow lanes just wide enough for one vehicle brought us to the village and its single pub where we enjoyed a delicious lunch. It’s a typically  quaint small English village.

     Early afternoon found us wandering around a century-old garden. This garden was a very natural one, not manicured as are many English gardens. I walked the many paths enjoying the garden’s varied and lovely foliage and flowers. At the end of one path near the ocean cliff was a memorial plaque to the WW II soldiers who had gone to the battlefield from that point.

      I paused to sit on many of the benches scattered around the garden to thoroughly enjoy the peace and quiet of the lovely old garden.

      It turned out to be an interesting full day on a beautiful day with many unexpected surprises. Ah the advantage of small groups!