During my teen years I was always being told to put on a coat because like most young people, I almost never wore one when I was going out. No amount of wheedling or the many times I heard, ” You’ll catch your death,” had any impact and my coatless habit continued into adulthood until six years ago when I moved to England.
Living in a place where the weather can change in minutes and we walk more most days than we drive, I quickly learned that a good coat particularly one that is waterproof is as necessary as a decent pair of wellies when you live in a place where you may get your feet wet even on a dry day.
I know that one doesn’t catch cold from getting caught in the rain, but after our day out with friends I woke up with a sore throat that turned into a nasty head and chest cold. I’d intended to post some photos from our Monday walk on Tuesday, but today is the first day I’ve felt up to it.
The funny thing about getting sick after getting a good drenching is that I was actually wearing a coat.
Even with the rain we had a great time out on our first coast path walk with Cathy and John who live within walking distance of our house. We’ve known them since we met in the village pub on quiz night about five years ago and we finally made a date to do a long walk. Monday was actually a second date as our first choice was rained out. The weather was supposed to be iffy, but having changed the date once we decided to risk it.
After a hearty lunch in Polruan, we felt sufficiently full of carbs to combat the grey sky and the rain that was beginning to sprinkle so we headed briskly out of the village.
Here’s one of ‘my John’ with Cathy. Notice how John has only the beginnings of a beard … he shaved it off for the bare-faced selfie drive a few weeks ago to raise money for Breast Cancer research.
Once we walked into Polruan for lunch there was nothing we could do but walk back in the rain. We made the best of it laughing and joking that Cathy and John would never come back out with us if this was our idea of a good time.
I asked Cathy’s permission before posting these two photos of her. I thought they were too cute not to so I’m glad she was a good sport. She was not expecting to be slip sliding up and down the coast so her boots were not the best on the muddy path and she had to do a balancing act to get up the hill near Lantic Bay. I like her technique.
Here we are at the top of a steep and slippery, long hill. Once we reached this point we were only a few fields away from the place where left the car and the relief is showing on our wet faces. John and I don’t usually do long walks in the wind and rain especially along the coast so this was really a first for us. (John said to speak for myself regarding this being a first, but it was a first for us together on the coast path)
The next time we go back with Cathy and John we’ll aim for a sunny day, but only after I shake off this cold and consider a better coat.
How about you … have you done any weather be damned activities lately?
Gifts Of The Journey 
No, but I will be in a week or so when the thermometer creeps up over a hundred. Summer’s coming early here to Arizona.
I loved this post for the beautiful shots of England, and of course, its humor. I must say Cathy’s solution was unique haha. Absolutely fantastic.
So, I’m curious, clearly it was wet, but was it cold? I get the impression that even though it rains a lot, the temp isn’t necessarily unbearable. I’m hoping that’s true since I so want to go there.
I sure hope your sick passes quickly. Under the weather is so much worse than being in the weather.
It was windy and cold, Leah especially the wetter we got. I had a polar fleece on underneath my windbreaker and I had gloves though so that helped. As for the temp, the temperature reminds me of Atlanta winters which are wet, but not too cold. Thanks for the healing wishes, I am looking forward to being able to breathe again.
I bet! Fast healing wishes to ya. Thanks for the weather report 🙂
What a coincidence! (hah) I haven’t done any weather be damned walking since my husband and I were in northern England in 1990. It just seemed to be the thing to do. After all, the “natives” were ignoring the “filthy weather,” as they called it, and we didn’t want to look like wimps. Even the babies were out in it, zipped into their strollers with just their adorable rosy-cheeked faces exposed to the elements. I have to admit, at the end of the day we were tired but exhilarated and very glad we had persevered. How I would love to go back someday. I loved everything about England.
It’s funny you used the word exhilarated because even though we were wet to the bone, we felt like we’d accomplished something when we climbed that last slippery hill and I do think exhilarating was a word I heard at the end.
Well, I live in Seattle so I have gone on many “weather be damned” activities. I need to look on a map to see where Polruan sits on the coast. We visited Port Isaac a few years back and those little towns along the coast are so charming. I remember one couple staying in the same hotel we were in and they had their backpacks and walking sticks and were making a long trek of the coast. I believe the weather was more favorable, however. It looked like such fun. I’m envious of your ‘walk in the rain’. I love Cornwall. Take care, get well.
Ohhhh Cheryl, I used to live in Tacoma when I was a child and the rain is something I remember! It does rain a lot here, but a blue sky day is heavenly and a good trade off for the grey days. Port Isaac is about 12 miles from where we live and I have loads of photos of Port Isaac on the blog. Doc Martin fans always want to go there and we try to take friends when they come to visit.
Good grief. You are of hardier stock than I am. But the pictures are wonderful. What a charming town. Glad you all survived.