Wet

This is Cornwall so we have to expect some wet weather. Today was the day. (In fact we are likely to get showers for the next few days). We don’t let it unduly worry us. Once we were up and about and enjoying some morning tea and coffee we decided on a plan for the day.

Wrapped in our wet weather gear we strolled along to the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall expecting to spend an hour there before moving on. Little did we know!

The museum is huge and features a main display hall, and then further side halls at various levels throughout the building. There is also a tower. Which affords a brilliant view over the whole area. We started in the main display hall and were led past boats of all shapes and sizes - yachts, motor boats, rescue boats, gigs, and quirky home built boats. Boats were scattered across the hall but were also suspended, at different heights, from the roof. This meant that as you rose through the various levels of the museum, you saw a whole new display of boats.

We took the lift to the top of the tower. The view was excellent and though it was still raining, the view was not impaired. The Gorse Fox got chatting to the guide who pointed out a few items and explained about the RFA Lyme Bay, which was moored nearby, and Hapag Lloyd cruise ship, Europa 2, which was moored just beyond. We lingered for quite a while before making our way back down.

There was a fascinating display taking the visitor through the history of tattoos in Britain. It appears they certainly date back to the early pilgrims - some of whom were marked to show their piety and the fact they had been to the Holy Land. There was also a discussion whether the Picts were tattooed but the consensus seems to be that they were just painted. The Gorse Fox can see that there is a great deal of art involved, but it is not something he will ever understand.

We stopped for coffee and while taking on the caffeine, Urban-Cub rang. She was buzzzing. They had just got the results of their inventory and the store had clearly improved again since last time. We chatted for a while before she was interrupted by a phone call. The Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox continued our exploration of the museum.

Our next stop was the display hall that featured the “Monsters of the Deep”. This displayed a huge 16th Century map with the various illustrations of sea monsters scattered between the land masses. Most of these were discussed in side exhibits, explaining the legends, the facts, and the fiction. It was fascinating. We spent longer in there than expected and then moved through. A display of some of the specimens that were brought back (in jars) from some of the famous research exhibitions.

Checking his watch as we finally left the museum, we had been captivated for more than three and half hours. We made our way across the Events Square. The rain pounded down and we decided to head for the cottage and a cup of tea. We stopped on the way and booked a table for dinner at a South African restaurant recommended by Tinkerbell.

We settled down with our books and magazines and some tea. We would have a quiet couple of hours before dinner. The rain still washed the streets and houses and fractured the surface of the water beside the quay.

The restaurant is about 20 yards from the cottage. We walked through the archway, and up Quay Street to the corner. We were there. We settled down at a corner table and chatted with the staff while we were deciding on our selection from the menu. We both had a starter - the Silver Vixen had Peri Peri Prawns with Avocado, and the Gorse Fox had the Boerewors Sausage. 

The starters were delicious and it boded well for the main course. The Silver Vixen chose the catch of the day - Lemon Sole served in the pan with saffron rice and lemon butter. It looked super and she tucked straight in. The Gorse Fox chose Ostrich Sosatie - braaied ostrich fillet on a skewer with bacon and apricots, chunky chips, and spiced ghee. It was sensational.

We really liked the restaurant and have already booked a return visit on Saturday. We left the restaurant. The rain had cleared. We made the most of it and went for a walk before returning to the cottage.

We settled down for the evening and watched as the sun painted the river gold as it set.