Rest day in Truro
Today was my first rest day of my trip. So far, I’ve covered almost 80 miles and made it to Truro. I started the morning with some kit admin, cleaning my boots and gaiters, and checking over my route for the next few days.
After a restful morning, I decided to go and explore Truro. The guesthouse that I’m staying in is a 10 minute walk from the city centre and I started by first heading to the cathedral.
The cathedral was really spectacular. The ceiling in itself was a work of art, let alone the stained glass windows and carved features. It was a beautiful place, to take a moment to pause.
At the side of the cathedral was the font. The font was really spectacular, made of a red marble from North America. The dark green pillars at the base are from the Lizard Peninsula. It was amazing to think that I walked over their source, only a couple of days ago. There was beautiful craftsmanship everywhere that I looked.
St. Mary’s Aisle was a little area down the side of the cathedral and is the oldest part, dating back to the 1600s although there has been a site of worship on the same spot since the 1300s. The ceiling was beautiful with crests on the eaves.
To the left of St. Mary’s Aisle was a matchstick model of the cathedral. Made of 42000-43000 matchsticks, it must have taken some patience! It was made by Bill Cheshire in 1999 at a 1:72 scale. I really admired all of the detail and accuracy.
In the cathedral, there was also a banner celebrating all of the different volunteer groups in Truro. It was nice to find a couple of squares made by the local Brownies on there.
After exploring the cathedral, I stumbled across the Waterstones. With it being World Book Day, it felt rude not to go in, and I couldn’t resist buying a book. (Thankfully, I have a parcel to send back home, so I won’t need to carry it for the rest of my trip!)
Coming out of Waterstones, I was greeted by the St. Piran’s day parade. Local people and school children were marching through the city, accompanied by a brass band. It was a really lovely surprise, and nice to experience a local tradition.
I then went on a search for the Cornwall Museum. The museum was really interesting and had lots of interesting artefacts. My favourite room had to be the Mineral Gallery. I’ve had many different collections growing up: paperclips, rubber ducks, garden gnomes to name a few, but one of my first was crystals. I’ve always loved the different colours and feeling the energy from the stones.
There were some that you could touch like this serpentine block from the Lizard Peninsula. It was fascinating to see how many different minerals have been found in Cornwall.
Part of the exhibition was interactive. You could select a stone, then a light and soundscape played, inspired by the crystal. I chose my favourite, Amethyst. It was amazing to be surrounded by all of the different purple patterns and colours.
Another room in the museum was dedicated to nature in Cornwall and included this display of shells. I really loved the variety, and to see so many in their complete form.
Upstairs was a range of artwork and exhibits. In the final room was an exhibition dedicated to Cornish people. Inspired by the happy newspaper, each poster featured someone who has championed local wildlife or the local community. It was amazing to read about all of these incredible people and the difference that they have made.
After visiting the museum, I found the tourist information, to buy a badge. I then completed my mission of finding a Cornish pasty in Cornwall, which I enjoyed on my way back to the guesthouse.
I then enjoyed a peaceful remainder of the afternoon; reading some of my new book, polishing my boots and generally resting my legs so that I’m ready to set off again tomorrow morning.
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