VoM2: Lizard, Cornwall

Lizard is the southerly most point on mainland Great Britain. It is home to a small, friendly village and I have had a wonderful day here. The weather was perfect and I took a fantastic walk — about 8 miles total — along the coastal path around the headland… I even made a new friend!

VoM2: Fowey, Cornwall

The coastal villages of Fowey and Polruan lay on opposite sides of an excellent little harbor. Their history goes back hundreds of years and includes great tales of seafaring, smuggling and all manner of other lore. It’s a beautiful setting and I’ve enjoyed a very good day here, highlighted by a really nice long walk in the hills and along the coast.

Along the way, I took little passenger ferries — sort of like little water taxis — back and forth between the villages, and I was intrigued by the variety of small watercraft that the local residents use to transit the harbor themselves. It didn’t occur to me until I saw it, but of course the kids from Polruan have to take a “water-bus” to attend their school which is on the Fowey side!

VoM2: Little Ferries

Besides being delightfully charming, the little ferries like this one from Bodinnick to Fowey are priceless assets to the local communities and to travelers like me. Without them, I’d have to repeatedly abandon the coast road and drive many miles up river to a bridge then back down to where I want to be. At a price of $2-3 per crossing and the price of gas about $8 a gallon… Such a deal, too!

VoM2: War Memorial in Devon

Cruising down the coastal road in Devon (near Strete and Slapton) I saw this monument and pulled in to take a look.

Turns out it was presented by the US Army to the local people who evacuated their homes and lands to provide a “live fire” practice area for the D-Day invasion. The beach’s similarity to those in Normandy (especially Utah Beach) made it a perfect rehearsal location for 30,000 American troops and 16 million tons of equipment to be put ashore. The local residents were given 6 weeks to leave and were not allowed to return for almost 10 months.

VoM2: Cornwall Road Trip Begins

After our ferry crossing of the English Channel from Guernsey, I spent a delightful long weekend with Betty at her home in Dawlish (Thanks, Betty!)

I’ve rented a car, and my “plan” is to drive around the Cornwall peninsula for a couple of weeks to see what it’s all about. I started out this morning, staying as close to the coast as possible on some very narrow, twisty little roads. After stopping here and there, I found myself taking this charming little ferry across the river Dart.

It took me into the lovely town of Dartmouth where I decided to stop for the night. It’s a tidy, pleasant little riverside/seaside town, one of many I expect to visit in the next fortnight!

VoM2: Sark, Channel Islands

Just a 45-minute ferry ride from Guernsey is the small island of Sark, a simply fabulous place for anything from a day-trip to a lengthy getaway. There are only about 600 people on the island, and no cars! Bicycles are the primary means of transport, but there are a few horse drawn carriages for touring the island.

The unpaved roads which cross the length and width of the island lead to many coastal walks along high bluffs with stunning views. If you’re ever looking for a place to “get away from it all” to enjoy peace and quiet, long walks and delightful island life, Sark should be on your list!

VoM2: Guernsey Boat Parking

A particularly fun moment on Guernsey was when we were walking through a remote coastal village and passed what can best be described as a parking lot for water craft. Just another little you don’t see every day!

VoM2: Guernsey, Channel Islands

I may have been ambivalent about Jersey, but I’m quite keen on Guernsey! A charming old town, a delightful countryside and simply stunning shorelines. A walker’s paradise! My good friend Betty took the ferry over from England to join me for a few days, and we had a blast riding efficient little buses all over the island to explore a lot of it in a little time.

Besides the lovely setting and scenery, there is quite a bit of ancient history — people have been living on the island for thousands of years — some very interesting WWII history — having been occupied by the German army — and a lot of local folklore. I recommend Guernsey as a worthy destination, and a definite side trip from either England or France!

VoM2: Jersey, Channel Islands

My impressions of Jersey in the Channel Islands are a bit mixed. While St. Helier — the main population/business center — isn’t particularly attractive or comfortable, the outlying countryside is quite pretty and peaceful. At least, that is, until the summer crowds show up and the place gets jammed. The main industry is “finance” (claimed by some to be run by an oligarchy/mafia, mind you) but tourism must certainly account for the highest body count. So, I’d suggest a couple of days if you’re in the area, but not as a “destination” from too far away.

VoM2: St. Malo Tides

I guess they’re not kidding when they say that Saint-Malo has some of the most extreme tides in the world.