Hiking

More Lincoln City fun.

Hiking is better with a walking stick.

Moles and fir cones.

Can I get the seeds out of the fir cones?

Rambles on the Coast Path

As you can see from this map, the Cornwall Coast Path goes along the coastal borders of this part of England. Parts of it are easy walking paths, parts of it are treacherous and challenging.  People actually walk parts, or all, of the path for vacations.  The trails follow bluffs, cross beaches, go over hills and pastures, and even go through towns, and sometimes on busy roads. We were lucky to take three different small hikes when we were in Cornwall. The first walk was from Padstow heading Northeast (I've marked the map in black at our starting points).  The second and third walks were from Charlestown, first heading South, and the next day heading Northeast.  

Padstow to Hawker's Cove

 It was a windy day, but much of the walk was in wooded areas so the wind wasn't a problem for us.

The beach was breathtaking - literally.

 

We managed to climb over stiles, and we went through some kissing gates as well.  The path is well marked so there was no issue of getting lost.

When we got to Hawkers Cove we found a very tiny hamlet and it had a Tea Garden!

The Tea Garden is up this path to the left.  It's actually in the back of someone's house.

On the way back to Padstow, kite surfers were out on the water - can you see the red and blue kite in the sky?

Being in a village full of tourists we looked for more of a local bar for our post hike pint.  We found it.

And we enjoyed our local pint.

Charlestown to the South

The harbor village of Charlestown is about 4 coves from the left.  Until now most of this walk was sheltered woodland.  We are about to start walking through steep sheep grazing fields.

We just emerged from these woods.  Some of the sheep are on a distant hill.

I am about halfway up a very steep hill.  The picture doesn't begin to do justice to the steepness.

I finally made it to the top.  The reason the grass looks like it might have a drop off is because it does!  Just think, I'm going to have to go down this to get back home.

After making it up the very steep sheep hill we had to go up and down a few flights of steps.  Taylor counted 167 steps on this one.

We made it back to Charlestown unscathed, even after going up and down multiple steep hills and treacherous stairs.  Charleston Harbor looks so safe and inviting.

Did I mention Poldark yet?  This is where the town scenes are filmed.

Charlestown to the Northeast
Today's hike was very different from the previous two hikes.  This time we walked for a long distances at the top of a cliff and next to a golf course.  I couldn't believe they allow walkers on the golf course, but glad we got to be there.  The beach scenes as usual were spectacular. As we neared our destination of the village of Par the scene changed.  Industry!!

We had gotten so used to spectacular beach scenes and sheep pastures that we were unprepared for industry.

We walked into town, found the Yummy Scrummy Bakery and had a wonderful lunch, then turned around to head back to Charlestown.

Taylor approaching the golf course on our way back to Charlestown.

After a day's hike who doesn't deserve a pint?

A Walk in the Park

Most mornings Taylor and I get up at six and start our forced march in Taipei. There are lots of parks, so we usually have a goal to walk toward.  One day, we decided to combine taking the MRT (subway) with our morning hike.  The goal:  Elephant Mountain.

We hopped on the MRT at Xinye Anhe Station which is a few blocks from our apartment.

We took the red line to Xiangshan. We emerged from the MRT station.

We came out of this station.

 And here we were, in a charming park at the base of Sishoushan Community Forest.

Regular morning exercisers were already at it.

 We were also a stone's throw from Taipei 101.

We walked through the park and found the trails up into the forest.

Looking at at the extensive trail system, I was reminded of Forest Park in Portland, OR.

We found what we thought was the trail to Elephant Mountain, and we started hiking.  We passed a lovely temple built into the side of the mountain.

Elephant Mountain is only 600 feet high, but it's a killer.  The Taiwanese don't believe in the switchback system.  This walk is what Margit and I call the "buns of steel" walk.

The walk was pretty much like this all the way up. There were very few flat areas for resting.

The day, of course, was hot and humid and the walk was pretty strenuous.  However, the view from the top was amazing.

So, we made it to the top of Elephant Mountain, saw the sights, and went home to shower, shave and shine.  Another walk in the park for Jamar and Taylor.