SNAIL MAIL LIVES..

Just back from a super week exploring yet more of the coastline of Cornwall.   This time we stayed in an area called Rosevine, close to the fishing port of Portscatho.   For those unfamiliar with Rosevine, take the road from Tregony to St. Mawes (the  A3078)  and at Trewithian turn off and enter an almost secret world, where the only sounds are the waves hitting the shore, the birds in the air and the buzz of early summer.   An ideal location for our continued bite sized, 5-mile chunks of the great south west coast path.

Among our travels, we made a return journey to the small hamlet of Portholland, tucked away down a narrow lane and, I believe, forming part of the Caerhays Estate.   We arrived there at lunchtime, Barney had a scamper on the beach and we sat at a picnic table for our lunchtime munch.   Afterwards, I had a stroll around as there seemed to be a shop in the terrace of houses overlooking the sea.  

Well, it turned out to be the Post Office but, being Monday lunchtime, it was closed.   A more detailed inspection revealed that it was, in fact, closed all day Monday.  And Wednesday.   And Thursday.   And Friday, Saturday and Sunday too.   On the door was an official Post Office notice, pictured above, confirming the fact that the only time it was open was between 9.00 and 12.00 on Tuesday mornings.   A notice detailing `closing hours` instead of `opening hours` might have been more relevant.

No matter, for this is the hidden coast of deepest Cornwall, where time doesn`t seem to matter that much, which is just as well.   But it has provided me with the perfect reason (as opposed to excuse) why, if you were ever expecting a postcard from Portholland wishing you were here, I fear you may have been disappointed.