St Just to Porthcurno: we met Geoff and Blaine again...

Today we got going early to pack up the tent and catch the bus to Porthcurno. It took a while to pack the tent which was damp due to this weeks bad weather. Any way we managed without to much trouble and catch the bus without any dramas. 

When the bus arrived it was the double decker open top Atlantic bus, like idiots we sat upstairs: it was freezing! We again bumped into a guy we had met on route a few days before, so we spent the journey talking to him (which was a distraction from the cold). 

Once at the campsite (Treen farm campsite), we set the tents up in quick time (we are camping pro's), grabbed our day things and headed out to walk back to St Just (remember you can walk the path in any direction). By the  time we set off the sky was blue, the sun was out and a constant wind (again not my own).

We had a short walk to the Minack Theatre: The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre, constructed above a gully with a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea. The story behind how Minack was built is quite moving, i'll let you research this. The coastal steps leading up to the theatre (there is access from inland) are very steep, a bit dodgy and hard work. I was fearful going up (sheer drop: i don't like heights), coming down i would have been a wreck, so i'm glad we walked anti-clockwise. A few miles later we stopped for breakfast/brunch/lunch (1'ish) first cuppa tea of the day and cake). We then pushed on to Lands End. 

The path to Lands End rolled along (a few drawn out ups and downs), but on the whole a good path. Knowing the last bus leaves St Just at 18.10hrs, we pushed on which is a great shame because the weather combined with the stunning views, crashing waves made it the most amazing part of the SWCP so far for me (don't get me wrong up to now the views have been beautiful, but today had all the right ingrediants). 

During this part of the walk we once again came across our Canadian father and son combo: Geoff and Blaine (forgive me if the spelling is wrong) walking the opposite direction to us. After a much needed day of rest Geoff was feeling revived enough to carry on walking. Go Geoff, only one more day's walk to go! If we don't bump into each other again, it was great meeting you both: let us know how the rest of you're stay in the UK went and that you got home safely. 

After a quick chat we parted. When we eventually artived at the very tacky hotel which stands at Lands End it became clear because of the late start it wasn't feasible to walk the last 5.5 miles, plus a mile into St Just in time to catch thd bus. We therefore decided to carry on and pay for a taxi back to the campsite. 

We stopped at Sennen Cove and had the best jacket potato ever! Sennen Cove is a one mile walk from Lands End, its a pretty harbour and along side has the beautiful Whitesand bay (and beach). 

At about 5pm we set off for the 5.5/6.5 mile walk: across sand, narrow paths, scrambling over boulders, cliff edges, sheer drops, steep ascents and descents. 'Sarah the Strong', also know as 'big', informs me that the views were terrific, however by this time I didn't care and was in tune with every ache and struggle of my body to notice the view. I just wanted to get the walk over with. We eventually made it to a pub in St Just at 8pm. Cheese, biscuits and red wine purchased from coop, Taxi ordered and pint of lemonade. Eventually got back to the campsite at about 9.15. 

Despite the walk only meant to be about 11miles, it felt a lot longer. I was glad to be back in my little tent. 

Fitbit records: 48,046 steps, 21.08 miles and 367 flights of stairs. 

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