In the night I was woken by world war three! Janet had put some washing in and the machine was screeching and rumbling. It didn’t disturb anyone else so I guess I didn’t drink as much as them! Today we are visiting St Martin’s. We queue at the quayside. There is a very long line. The first boat is full. The skipper assures us there will be another boat along presently. 10 minutes or so later a big open boat similar to the one we came home on yesterday arrives and we are quickly on board. The wait is not too bad as we are in the full warmth of the sun and out of the wind. The trip is slightly further today but wow it’s so worth it. From the moment we first spotted the island we could see it was special. Long sandy beaches, secret little coves, beautiful floral hills. Again a good concrete path for walking and for the golf carts. Children cycling. Janet remarks how safe it is for young children with no cars. We decide we need a cup of coffee. The first sign says Little Arthur’s coffee shop. A short stroll and a dear little coffee bar/restaurant in the middle of a field is quaint & quirky. As the sun is out we sit outside. I take some photos of the inside as it’s quiet charming with possibly the smallest loo in the world. They obviously do food in the evening as there is a collection of wine bottles of various shapes on the table with dribbled wax. The boys had barmbrack cake a specialty of Cornwall. The coffee is not the best we have had but the service was great. We have found the Scillonians very friendly and polite. They seem to love their work & it shows. Like St Mary’s local folk here have little stalls at theirs gates selling handmade knickknacks. We head on slowly towards the opposite side of the island called lower town and a hotel called Karma where we will board the boat back.. It’s quite a treck. 8,000 steps or so along hills and dales on so many different terrain’s. The island is beautiful. The road leads down towards the coast, I have never seen such beautiful beaches. It’s a bright warm day. We enjoy the walk. We pass a beautiful old church and stop at the graveyard to inspect the graves where so much lichen is growing on the tombstones. The air is fresh and smells of the sea. Wild garlic and primroses strewn along the road side everywhere just as it is on St Mary’s. We eventually reach the Karma Hotel. It’s perched on a bank looking over the sea and other islands. It’s a spa hotel. How fab it would be to stay here for a couple of days. We are approached by what we originally think is the manager but soon realise he is a salesman for the Karma group of timeshare hotels. We all think it’s a great deal they offer and will look it up on our return home. The boys have a beer or two with crab sarnies and us girls have small crab salad. Our boat arrives to take us back and we head to the quay nearby and board the very crowded boat back to St Marys. This evening we are booked into The Star Hotel up at the Barracks for our last meal together. Roger and Richard decide before hand to treat Olly & Janet as their hospitality has been outstanding and generous. The minibus taxi picks us up at 7.45 & after two stiff g & t’s we have a very jolly ride up to the Star. The driver tells us he has lived on the island for twenty years after coming here for twenty years on holiday after his honeymoon. As we enter the gates to the barracks we think we will have to get out as the gate is not wide enough for vehicles however the driver puts his hand out of the window and moves his wing mirror and we drive straight through with millimetres to spare each side. We all gasp! At the steps to the hotel entrance the driver takes a group photo for us and we enter the hotel. I peer into the restaurant and see every table is full. We are escorted to our table at the far end of the restaurant. We all notice the tables of grey hair and hearing aids. There is no sound or music. Richard mentions graveyard. Janet and I have fits of giggles and Olly puts on his age nine act and jokingly apologised for our noisy entrance making it noisier still. The shocked faces of the elderly at our entrance is enhanced by Olly’s bright leery shirt which resemble his mother’s curtains (says Richard). I think it’s the most excitement this lot have had since the roaring 1920’s! We settle down and order our food and wine – all of which was superb. Needless to say we are the last people in the restaurant and our lovely taxi driver returns to take us back home. A few more sherbets and I go to bed hoping poor Richard will follow me as he has such a long drive tomorrow. What seems like hours later Roger joins me.
Wednesday, Roger, myself & Richard are up with the lark as we are being picked up at 8.15 for our flight home. Hugs and kisses to Olly & Janet as we leave them in peace for their last day. The airport is 3 minutes up the road. We show ID and our cases are labled and put on the belt. There are no other checks and we head straight into departures and apart from a safety briefing similar to our flight out, we head straight to the plane and we are off. Flying back I am sitting the same side but in row 3, just two old ladies in front. I gasp as we taxi to the end of the runway on a cliff edge where we turn sharply round to begin our take off. Please note readers No Gin consumed!!! I was so brave!!! Take off gives me a superb view of the islands. You can see the real beauty of the many little uninhabited islands and treacherous rocks that caused so many ship wrecks. I am able to see all the coast line of U.K. mainland. Passing over rivers and estuaries trying to work out the towns and cities below. Apart from a spot of cloud as we passed Lands End most of the journey was hazy with reasonable visibility. Landing was a tad worrying, I hate turbulence and the wings were wobbling but we are soon on terra firma. Again no checks just pick up the luggage and walk to the car. Masks are worn on board all times. Richard drives us home and we are in the door by 5 pm despite a pit stop and a slight deviation around Birmingham!
Later we learned that Olly & Janet walked up to Juliet’s Garden for a spot of lunch and birdwatching. Enjoy your peace and quiet Olly & Janet – you deserve a rest after five days with us lot!!! Thank you for giving us the treat of a lifetime. Making memories and special friendships. God Bless.
Liquid Tales 