Pinnacle Adventure

 

Certainly if we were to be asked our favorite adventure of the week, my vote would have to be walking the Coffin Trail. When we say the word 'coffin' we are not thinking of death or pine boxes - although pine boxes were in times past carried along this trail. We think of walking the pastures between Zennor and St Ives, a pathway greener than you might probably imagine. A tour guide, the splendid Tony, has taken various of my family members along this trail. But schedules did not mesh this time, and so we two blondes strode forth on our own.

Not wishing to wander around lost, we compared a paper map with our iPhone Maps app, and traced exactly the proper way to go. On both types of map were Zennor and its church; further along sat Lower Tregerthen, Wicca and Boscubben Farms, Trendrine Farm, and other landmarks to keep us straight. I thought we might still be lost at least part of the time (which has happened to me before), but thanks to the daughter with a screen shot and excellent sense of direction, we never were!

Click here to learn more details about my Coffin Trail adventure with the Rather Stunning Son, circa 2019.

We took the open top bus 5 beautiful miles to Zennor.

the Church at Zennor, below

One of many 'stiles' along the way.

The ruins of a chapel where the Wesleys had, long ago, preached. About this I must say something: even though I have walked the Coffin Train many times, I have not always come upon this elderly chapel. How can such a thing be? I've no earthly idea, because there it is clear as day along the trail. 

Climbing stiles took concentration and quite a lot of balance. Whenever I needed it, a hand as if by magic would reach backwards to grasp mine, and over we would both go.

We saw the sign below, and looked at each other. Bulls. I hadn't remembered any bulls on this trail (although there had been some in the Cotswolds), but we left them alone and they thankfully returned the favor.

Eating a Cornish pasty along the trail. 

This pasty had come from The Cornish Bakery on Fore (our favorite) Street. We were running late for the bus, but remembered we might get hungry along the way. The Cornish Bakery gleamed out at us, and we dashed in and out, the proprietor being uncommonly quick, and made it to the bus just in time.

(BTW, those hot pasties were still warm when we became hungry.)

It was, as I have said, an open top bus, which ought to be just fine given all the fresh air up there. But we had a teeny concern about becoming 'bus sick' (those double deckers do achieve some nauseating movements). But we decided to run the risk, and climbing upwards, received the rewards of awesome beauty.

Somehow the combination of the trail, the pastures, the sea, the companionship, and a blue sky above it all is unforgettably satisfying. Absolutely - oh, what other word can describe it to you? 

perhaps splendid; 

or magnificent; 

or spectacular?

Yes, dear Readers.

It was all of the above.

See you along the way!

the SconeLady