Today began with the obligatory Doc Martin walking tour of Port Isaac. We were an interesting group of about 10 people: an Australian woman, a French couple, a couple from Massachusetts, only one British family, and a 26-year-old male from Anaheim, California who was the uber fan. Our guide was Dave Morgan, who has been an extra in some of the Doc Martin episodes as well as in Poldark. Consequently he had some insight to share. The pharmacy where Mrs. Tishell works is really an ice cream/fudge shop. There is a bust of Horatio Nelson above the door that is also on the show. Dave told us that between shooting they put Mrs. Tishell's neck brace around Nelson's neck. They had one on it today.

At the Port Isaac beach today, there was a special lifeboat larks event to raise money for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution). In addition to food and display tables, there were casualty recovery demonstrations, a military band, and lots of people.

Port Isaac has a rowing club but they do what is called gig rowing in these boats.

We spent the afternoon at the ruins of Tintagel Castle, climbing up onto the island and looking, without success, for the recent archaeological site that has now been covered over. The views were spectacular and the exercise felt good.

I like the new bronze statue Gallos by sculptor Rubin Enyon that has caused some controversy for making the site too much like Disneyland.













We then visited the Tintagel Old Post Office and were able to use our National Trust memberships to get free admission (the Castle was an English Heritage property and we couldn't use them there). This is a 14th century stone house, with a beautiful little garden out back. We rushed through it because we had to get back to the car park before our allotted time was up.




The hydrangeas here are spectacular, especially on the drive between Tintagel and Port Isaac, I've never seen such colors before. This photo doesn't really do them justice.




We had dinner at The Mote in a 16th century building at the harbor. When in Port Isaac you must have Port Isaac crab.













We got to experience both low and high tides. . .

. . . as well as a nice sunset. We're staying at the Old School Hotel, pictured on the cliff in the second photo below. It is used as the school in the Doc Martin series.

Favorite sign of the day: