Pros Travelblog - Day Ten - Saturday - Cornwall and Up
Sunday, 24 May 2009 07:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
byslantedlightSaturday was the saddest day, cos we left ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cheshirecity2 and started the long trek north... though we cheated and popped into just one or two more little proper Cornwall places first...
...like the Minack Theatre, which is absolutely gorgeous - can't you just picture MS and LC performing on that stage? Together? (Well, if you're gonne dream, dream big, right? *g*)
And actually there was a wee bit of Pros fic location there, because although we never did see The Scillonian, these plants made me think of the ones Bodie kept looking at in the Scillies in Island Innocents... *g*
On northwards then, although we passed this place...
Leaning his cycle against a large granite boulder, Bodie picked up his binoculars and strolled towards the makeshift bridge that crossed the stream at Cot Valley. Once across, he climbed the steep, grassy slope to the rocky outcrop which overlooked the incoming tide. Gazing out to sea through the glasses he made a mental note of the seabirds visible. Herring , Common and a solitary Great Black-Backed Gull and several Shags standing sentry on the rocks. Not exactly exciting.
He sighed deeply and sat heavily on a ledge. It was failing to inspire him this morning - this glorious coastline. Granted it was a dull day, but it had never mattered before; come rain, come shine, he had always found something here to interest him, but not for the past week. He knew he'd become listless, saw too that Mrs. Trembath was concerned, but had still not been able to stir himself into life.
He stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back against the rock, looking out across the wide expanse of ocean. It seemed almost as sluggish as himself; no energy to create anything as grandiose as waves, it lapped indifferently against the shoreline.
Of course he knew what the problem was. He'd not been able to get a certain Mr. Doyle out of his head. Those strange eyes and that expressive mouth had firmly entrenched themselves into his subconscious, until little else occupied his thoughts. Was this love at first sight? It couldn't be. It took time to fall in love - real love - this had to be lust and the thought dismayed him. At thirty two he'd thought himself too mature for such shenanigans; a sensible, albeit light-hearted, adult should be. It appalled him to discover that he was just as susceptible as a callow youth, no matter how much he fought against it.
Well. Nothing doing here, nor up at the Cape for that matter. Ruefully he realised a legion of Roman Centurions could have marched past with Hadrian at their head, and he probably wouldn't have given them a second glance. A drink perhaps? The Star ought to be open by now. He glanced at his pocket-watch, almost twelve, perhaps a beer would lift his spirits.
Back at his bicycle, he dropped his binoculars into his saddlebag and began the long push to the top of the hill. Still trying, valiantly, to banish those eyes from his mind.
o0o
Pushing open the door, Bodie strolled into The Star's dark interior and approached the bar. Several men were already seated there, old codgers having a yarn, as the locals called it. Their version of a good gossip, as Bodie had discovered very soon after his arrival in the area. As he waited to be served, he could hear Old Will in full flow behind him.
"So this 'ere young curate, bit wet behind the ears like, looks at the drowned sailor on the beach and says to Granfer ' What is the procedure? ' And Granfer says, quick's a flash ' Sarch 'is pockets!' "
Old Will cackled delightedly and his companion laughed heartily in unison.
Bodie smiled to himself. These tales the locals enjoyed entertaining the rare tourist with were definitely to be taken with a pinch of salt. He wouldn't exactly have called them lies, but the idea was to elicit as many pints of beer out of the hapless victim as possible. This victim though, judging by his laughter, seemed to be enjoying himself hugely and Bodie turned to observe the man. His head snapped back immediately in horror. He fervently hoped the colour of his face was lost in the gloom; he was sure it must be scarlet.
Doyle. His heart was beating out a tattoo. The landlord approached and Bodie had to make a very rapid decision. Run? Or stay and brazen it out? "Good mornin' Mr. Bodie, what can I do for 'ee today 'en?"
The voices behind him had fallen silent and Bodie knew his name had been recognised. No use hoping otherwise, in a county full of 'Pens' and 'Tres', 'Bodie' stuck out like a sore thumb.
He steeled himself. "A pint of Cornish please, Tom."
On again, to Cape Cornwall...
And from there to Tintagel...
...and finally on to a bed and breakfast in the heart of Devon... *sighs sadly* Is there any Devon-lads fic? Can't think of any... Rediscovered in a Graveyard, perhaps? Still can't remember where that's set...
cheshirecity2 and started the long trek north... though we cheated and popped into just one or two more little proper Cornwall places first... ...like the Minack Theatre, which is absolutely gorgeous - can't you just picture MS and LC performing on that stage? Together? (Well, if you're gonne dream, dream big, right? *g*)
And actually there was a wee bit of Pros fic location there, because although we never did see The Scillonian, these plants made me think of the ones Bodie kept looking at in the Scillies in Island Innocents... *g*
On northwards then, although we passed this place...
Leaning his cycle against a large granite boulder, Bodie picked up his binoculars and strolled towards the makeshift bridge that crossed the stream at Cot Valley. Once across, he climbed the steep, grassy slope to the rocky outcrop which overlooked the incoming tide. Gazing out to sea through the glasses he made a mental note of the seabirds visible. Herring , Common and a solitary Great Black-Backed Gull and several Shags standing sentry on the rocks. Not exactly exciting.
He sighed deeply and sat heavily on a ledge. It was failing to inspire him this morning - this glorious coastline. Granted it was a dull day, but it had never mattered before; come rain, come shine, he had always found something here to interest him, but not for the past week. He knew he'd become listless, saw too that Mrs. Trembath was concerned, but had still not been able to stir himself into life.
He stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back against the rock, looking out across the wide expanse of ocean. It seemed almost as sluggish as himself; no energy to create anything as grandiose as waves, it lapped indifferently against the shoreline.
Of course he knew what the problem was. He'd not been able to get a certain Mr. Doyle out of his head. Those strange eyes and that expressive mouth had firmly entrenched themselves into his subconscious, until little else occupied his thoughts. Was this love at first sight? It couldn't be. It took time to fall in love - real love - this had to be lust and the thought dismayed him. At thirty two he'd thought himself too mature for such shenanigans; a sensible, albeit light-hearted, adult should be. It appalled him to discover that he was just as susceptible as a callow youth, no matter how much he fought against it.
Well. Nothing doing here, nor up at the Cape for that matter. Ruefully he realised a legion of Roman Centurions could have marched past with Hadrian at their head, and he probably wouldn't have given them a second glance. A drink perhaps? The Star ought to be open by now. He glanced at his pocket-watch, almost twelve, perhaps a beer would lift his spirits.
Back at his bicycle, he dropped his binoculars into his saddlebag and began the long push to the top of the hill. Still trying, valiantly, to banish those eyes from his mind.
Pushing open the door, Bodie strolled into The Star's dark interior and approached the bar. Several men were already seated there, old codgers having a yarn, as the locals called it. Their version of a good gossip, as Bodie had discovered very soon after his arrival in the area. As he waited to be served, he could hear Old Will in full flow behind him.
"So this 'ere young curate, bit wet behind the ears like, looks at the drowned sailor on the beach and says to Granfer ' What is the procedure? ' And Granfer says, quick's a flash ' Sarch 'is pockets!' "
Old Will cackled delightedly and his companion laughed heartily in unison.
Bodie smiled to himself. These tales the locals enjoyed entertaining the rare tourist with were definitely to be taken with a pinch of salt. He wouldn't exactly have called them lies, but the idea was to elicit as many pints of beer out of the hapless victim as possible. This victim though, judging by his laughter, seemed to be enjoying himself hugely and Bodie turned to observe the man. His head snapped back immediately in horror. He fervently hoped the colour of his face was lost in the gloom; he was sure it must be scarlet.
Doyle. His heart was beating out a tattoo. The landlord approached and Bodie had to make a very rapid decision. Run? Or stay and brazen it out? "Good mornin' Mr. Bodie, what can I do for 'ee today 'en?"
The voices behind him had fallen silent and Bodie knew his name had been recognised. No use hoping otherwise, in a county full of 'Pens' and 'Tres', 'Bodie' stuck out like a sore thumb.
He steeled himself. "A pint of Cornish please, Tom."
On again, to Cape Cornwall...
And from there to Tintagel...
...and finally on to a bed and breakfast in the heart of Devon... *sighs sadly* Is there any Devon-lads fic? Can't think of any... Rediscovered in a Graveyard, perhaps? Still can't remember where that's set...
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 08:12 am (UTC)Anyway, enough rambling, I just wanted to say thank you for all your quotes from my romantic tosh. I'm kind of staggered that you did that... finding various locations I mean, especially getting into the little library in Morrab gardens! I was flabbergasted! I haven't seen that theology section since I was 17. And it's still there! I knew time stood still down there but 'Gawd'. I hope you enjoyed your Cornish end of the trip anyway - I've certainly enjoyed your lovely travelogues!
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 08:41 am (UTC)I love the sound of your Dartmoor story - that'd be brilliant! Bandits and Bodie and Doyle and Dartmoor... Just perfect! I shall be hoping that someone's written about the bandits so that you can write us a Prosfic! *vbg*
And you're totally welcome for quotes from your romantic tosh, cos you know it's one of my favourite Pros stories ever... *g* It was so fun to find the places too - and I'm desperate to go back and have a bicycle and stay somewhere near St Just now too... *sighs*
Apparently the theology books aren't in the theology section any more, but the theology section is still there... *g* Had to have a picture of it... *vbg* And KWS spent more time looking for that rhododendron bush... We had to dissuade her very firmly from trying to figure out the "rocky outcrops"... *vbg* So much fun though - such gorgeous country!
Must dash - Launceston first, then up to Devon...
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 01:04 pm (UTC)Just butting in to say that the pic for May on my Exmoor calendar is of Winsford and the Royal Oak, so I think of 'A Family Affair' every time I look at it!
*g*
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 10:38 am (UTC)Can't think of any Devon Pros stories off the top of my head . . .
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 06:52 am (UTC)I don't want to be back at home now!
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 11:18 am (UTC)What's it been like finding places to stay in those parts?
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 06:58 am (UTC)Mostly we were staying with friends, actually - there were two nights that we unexpectedly had to find accommodation in Glastonbury and then Devon, and then two nights in Cornwall/Devon that we'd planned to do so but hadn't arranged it in advance since we didn't know exactly where we'd be then, but it turned out to be okay. The tricky bit was finding twin beds, and we couldn't always get internet access, and only one place offered a vegetarian full english in the morning (and even then I was too slow to figure out what that might be, since I'm not mad keen on eggs either - but the Linda McCartney sausages were nice! *g*) But if you're in a couple then I'd imagine it'd be even easier to find somewhere - places do more double beds than anything else... We mostly searched on the internet to do it, and that worked out well - easier than stopping in at each little place, only to find out they were double-beds only, or too expensive or whatever...
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 11:29 am (UTC)I've never been to that part of England. Your pictures do tempt me to alter my plans a bit for my next trip.
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 06:59 am (UTC)Cornwall is absolutely as beautiful as it's hyped to be - though I imagine very touristy at the height of the season!
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 02:58 pm (UTC)Wonderful idea to do the Pros fiction locations! Thank you so much for these!
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 03:43 pm (UTC)I'm assuming you've read it - you are so well read in Pros fic. So maybe it's a mental block!?
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 04:16 pm (UTC)And they inspired me to suggest to my husband that we *could* actually move to the UK and work there! :D
I have an EU passport, being German, and we both speak the language and our daughter would love to travel, too. She's done with high school next year.
And I'd be much closer to my aging parents!
It's just a pipe dream, but anyhow... :)
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:05 am (UTC)How fab it would be if you did move over! And you could come to Nattercon and the Scarsdale, and other Pros-y meet-ups! *g*
Pipe dreams can sometimes come true, you know... *g*
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Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, 24 May 2009 09:06 pm (UTC)Me: Lets go for a drive - ooh isnt it lovely here *grins to herself
Them:Lovely, yeah (wonder why Zoe/Mum is grinning)
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, 26 May 2009 04:11 pm (UTC)So that's one Devon Pros fic - even if it's not a classic...
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 07:08 am (UTC)I'm so going to make a Pros Fic Locations Storylist!
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Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 02:38 pm (UTC)Yes, you totally should! That might be the catalyst for many more Pros fic location tours!
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Date: Thursday, 28 May 2009 05:00 pm (UTC)