Treyarnon to Porthcothan
Before our Love & Hope gig at Treyarnon, we had the day free to explore our environs.
Dramatic Rock Formations
Walking along the cliff-top path to Porthcothan, we were rewarded with stunning views over turquoise and green seas, fringed with white as the waves crashed onto dramatic rock formations below. Skylarks fluttered on invisible perches, chirruping away on high. Gulls, kittiwakes and cormorants expertly soared in the on-shore breeze. Jackdaws hovered above the clifftop meadows.
All along this stretch there are signs warning walkers not to walk too close to the crumbling cliff edge. We met a retired couple from the Netherlands who were walking the coastal path to Newquay. Their travel agent, taxi driver, B&B owner and – quite possibly – the checkout girl at ASDA had told by tnot to stray from the path. So, they had been horrified to witness us clambering about on the rocky outcrops. For the record, these were not anywhere near the undercut clifftops. Although they weren’t too far away either.
Sheltered From the View
Nearing Portcotham, we were pleased to meet walkers coming in the opposite direction with coffees and ice creams. By the beach was a small gift shop and cafe, sheltered from both the wind and any kind of view. Here, we enjoyed a coffee and – of course – a pasty. Walking down to the shallow beach afterwards, Rob observed that the tide was coming in fast. It would have been easy to get cut off, as the water raced across the flat sand.
Arriving back in Treyarnon at high tide, this could have been a good time to swim with reduced risk of stepping on a dreaded weaver fish. These little buggers bury themselves in the sand, with long, stiff, poisonous spines protruding upwards. Stepping on one of these – as Brian discovered on a previous visit – is a painful experience. The way to treat it is to immerse the effected foot in water as near to boiling as can be tolerated. This draws out the poison but can potentially result in nasty scalding.
Alarming Abundance
As it happened, the weather was now turning, with menacing clouds blowing in, a accomponied by a cold breeze. So, tea was taken on the YHA terrace as Brian agonised over whether or not to go in. On arrival, we’d seen a peregrine falcon on the hunt, quite possibly hoping to snare a baby rabbit, these being in alarming abundance throughout the hostel’s campsite. As we drank our tea, a kestrel hovered close by. As we watched, a jackdaw – also hugely prevalent hereabouts – swooped down from out of eyeshot and pecked the Kestrel on the nape of the neck, knocking it from its geostasis.
Worsening Weather
By 4pm, we were ready to prepare for the gig. However, there was no sign of Rachel, who coordinates everything. In her absence, the very helpful kitchen and front-of-house managers fetched the PA and moved tables on the terrace. As we began piecing everything together, Rachel appeared. After a little deliberation, we decided – in view of the worsening weather – to take everything inside. Which turned out to be a good move.
The audience was really attentive – listening, responding and joining in with enthusiasm. One group, sat at the front, are regulars at Treyarnon’s “Sunset Sessions”. They loved our set and helpfully took footage on Rob’s phone. A youngster with this group, Isaac, will shortly be moving to Bath. Brian promised to introduce him to our top local venue The Bell if he gets in touch. We enjoyed a couple of beers with these lovely folk and received nice comments from others as they left.
Open-Minded & Appreciative
Thank goodness. It had been a long journey to get here. With the weather closing in, we’d feared this may be a damp squib. However, it had turned out to be a great night. Rachel – who does all the organising on a voluntary basis – had been more than helpful and had done a good job with promotion. The hostel staff were all really helpful and the audience had been open-minded and appreciative.
Go there. You won’t be disappointed.