Land's End in the Fog

Yesterday we hiked from Sennen to Land's End, and then to Porthcurno where we spent the night. It was a very foggy day, so there were no views out to sea. All of the photos are either of the foggy atmosphere or closeups of the luxuriant flowers and vegetation. Not a bad trade-off!

Pendeen to Sennen Cove

We took an open-top double-decker bus from St. Ives to Pendeen, thus avoiding the most strenuous section of the hike. The morning after a very restless sleep in Pendeen, we set out along the Coast Path for Sennen Cove: a nominal nine-mile hike. Actually, with all the ups and downs and twists and turns, my iPhone "Health" app said that I had taken 29,000 steps (equivalent to 13.3 miles for normal step length) and climbed 57 stories. Whatever the exact numbers, we were exhausted by the end of the day. But the hike was beautiful and the weather was perfect: sunny, about 70F, light breeze. A few pictures:

The route is full of abandoned mines (mainly tin), some extending under the water.

Cornwall has wildflowers and colorful vegetation that even outshine Portland's. This red vegetation formed extensive mats in places. Together with the greenery and the blue sea and sky, the colors were wonderful.

A ruined part of a castle complex, looking over the sea.

St. Ives

St. Ives is probably the best known town in Cornwall, mainly because it was the home of famous mid-20th C artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson. (Though it also has a lovely, spacious beach and much colorful foliage.) We spent yesterday visiting museums and otherwise wandering around the town.

The beach was sunny and reasonably warm, but there was a stiff breeze, so people built elaborate wind-screens.

There's an extensive program for training kids how to board-surf.

The Tate has a branch in St. Ives. Here a docent is explaining a stained glass window by Patrick Heron to a group of school children,

Affiliated with Tate St. Ives (and the main reason the branch is there) is the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Museum and Garden. The garden is particularly lovely.

A 20 minute walk up the hill leads to the Leach Pottery. Bernard Leach pioneered in bringing Japanese-style pottery to the western world, Many famous potters, including Minnesota's Warren MacKenzie, trained with Leach. This room contains some of the first kilns built by Leach and Hamada after Japanese models.

Coming to Cornwall

We're in England until the end of the month, for the next week in Cornwall. Yesterday was a long travel day, flying from Portland to Seattle to London Heathrow, and then five hours by train from London Paddington Station to St. Erth in Cornwall, where we were picked up and driven to St. Ives which we'll explore today.

Toward the end of a long train ride, when our carriage had largely emptied out. 

Feeling a little goofy, I took a goofy picture.

Cornwall is warm enough all year round to have palm trees.

A Cornwall train station: functionality plus gardening

There were patches of dense fog throughout the area. This was the view from our room about 6 PM.  (From which we have a lovely view of the sea this sunny morning.)

Here's Looking at You

We're in the Seattle Sky Club on our way to England, with probably little chance to post tomorrow. So I'll post twice today, with a theme that should look obvious.

A favorite statue outside a real estate office in the Pearl in Portland

Reciprocal looking in the Portland Art Museum 

Division Street

SE Division Street, between about 30th and 35th, is one of the centers of the foodie culture in Portland, Oregon. A few days ago we went over to walk the street and familiarize ourselves with what it has to offer. Here are a few photos from the excursion, emphasizing the funkiness of the neighborhood.

Industrial Sculpture in Monochrome

Yesterday's images converted to black & white. Stronger this way, I think.