Off down to Riksville, which is on the East side of the harbour – where Rik Stein had created his own wood covered community to sell his wares. He has a deli, a fish and chip shop, a fish sellers, and I think a something else which I can’t recall. We wanted breakfast, but there was nothing to be seen.
Back into Padstow proper and we called into the bakery, and I got a Giant Steak Pasty – which like all pasties in the world was far too hot to eat, so I carried it.
Our intention was to travel across the River Camel, and has a little look around Rock – famous for being named after a large stone, so we boarded the ferry and set off to the town of Rock. It wasn’t a town, it was a road, and quite a long one at that, but there was NOTHING there. So disappointing. We expected something, as the online mention had been about great restaurants, and fantastic deli’s and fish shops and … Well its just a road, with some crappy shops along it. Its small.
So after moaning about it for an hour, we headed off West towards somewhere, we started on roads, which got narrow, so we followed a sign stating Public Footpath into a field. With no more signs. They are lying bastards, these people in cagools who put up these signs, deliberately pointing them to muddy, in-escapable fields, where farmers, or wildlife are going to kill you. We followed the edge, saw a stle, followed the edge – then came to a sodding locked gate. So we had no choice put to jump it, expecting the farmer with this gun and condescending attitude to appear at any moment – what we did find was another style. It said, in very clear red and white letters – PRIVATE PROPERTY – no access allowed. Ha! we said, and we nervously climbed over, and spend the next 20 mins in a Mission Impossible style crouch, hiding from golfers and groundsmen. So we were out of the fields, but in a golf course with no idea which was was out, and no Golf club, ball, tee or hat – we were going to be found out unless we took immediate action. So we went to the highest point on the golf course and sat on a bench. Then we ran like baby turtles to the safety of the dunes and sea.
Walking for some more time we got to a place, which had nothing, not even an open toilet, then continued on to Polzeath – where we actually found some pubs, so sat and boozed it up, whilst Kate had cheesy chips and the most expensive brownie in the world.
We walked back along the beach which only took around 45 mins – which was 3hrs 15 less than it took to get out there, we boarded the ferry, quite happy to have left the North Side of the RIver Camel for good (well until tomorrow when we went back).
Back into Padstow, and we had a couple of beers, then went to look at the Italian, and ended up in Old Ship Inn, which I sat sourfaced and drinking coke, with a dry burger.