A few days off

I've not had much time off this year yet. A few days here and there, mostly to do something important, fix things, attend funerals and so on. So when the time came to grab a few days something cheap, relaxing and different was required. Liz booked the whole family into a youth hostel in the little village of Golant near to Fowey in Cornwall.

We arrived after nearly a 3 hour drive from my parents house where we'd broken the long journey overnight. We had an hour to kill before we could check in and explored the gardens. Before long the little children had found some chickens to play with...

Once checked in we examined our room. All 6 of us in the same room. The little ones thought it was brilliant, but the teens the exact opposite! As expected...

I've not stayed in Youth Hostels very often, but this was a great experience. It was a little run down, but cheap and clean. The food was superb. We all had a big meal and enjoyed some local Cornish beer. Under the youth hostel logo in the lobby was this wonderful message.

Day 2 we planned to spend the morning on the beach at Polkerris and then head off to the Eden Project as its free for children after 3.30pm and they have a beer and curry evening special for just £6 a head.
Here is Polkerris. A lovely little beach at the bottom of a very steep hill! Right on the beach is a fabulous cafe called "Sam's on the beach". It's sited in the old lifeboat house. We ate there and although the service was very slow due to it being absolutely packed, my Thai Mussels were some of the best I've ever eaten.



With help from Mabel, Millie and Liz I made this scary monster to leave behind on the beach.
After lunch we headed off to the Eden Project. We'd seen pictures of it before but they are nothing compared to seeing the place for real. Its really stunning.




We gift aided our tickets (so the Eden Project can get our tax back) and got free access to the place for the next year. I would like to go back and spend time there without 4 children. Going through the Geospheres there is so much to see and read, it was impossible in the time we'd allocated. A great day out. We got back late and crashed out in bed after a few games of pool.
Next day we decided to spend the day in and around Fowey. It was Regatta week which it was the last time we came here 24 years ago!
As we walked about the tiny streets, out of nowhere came a flock of Michael Jacksons and Bubbles.




After lunch we booked up for a river trip in an old steam powered boat. Fabulous. We wandered about watching multi coloured yachts racing on the river. Millie got stung by a wasp and the skies turned rather black!

The weather brightened up just in time for the trip. What a great little boat it was. Apparently the hull is nearly 100 years old, with the boiler and engine being somewhat newer. I didn't establish exactly how new.


Along the river are some fantastic properties. The first picture is the house where Daphne du Maurier used to live. The last is at a place called Pont. This is National Trust property and can be rented. What a place that would be to have a quiet break.




After the trip we jumped back into the cars and drove 3 hours non stop back to my parents. A good but exhausting break!