New Valley Hills

I decide overnight today will be a rest day. It’s forecast rain and strong wind all day. I’m also taking a bus from Bideford to Braunton taking me along what would’ve been 27km with 17m(!) ascent of road, pavement and Tarka Trail walk/cycle path. Boring as hell. So far I’ve walked Weymouth pavements (twice!), avoided Plymouth pavements entirely by catching two ferries, and walked Marazion to Mousehole on pavement. It’s boring, it makes my feet hurt, and I get aches and pains in my legs from endless repetitive movements.

I do like these £2 bus fares- I get 80 minutes of bus travel for this.

Braunton has cafes aplenty. As I’m not walking I treat myself to a coffee and

The campsite is only 2km away where I’ll do laundry and glue my shoes up again.

Over second breakfast the rain stops. As I walk to the campsite I cook up a plan – it’s turning into too good a day not to walk, and I feel refreshed by the morning off. The campsite can’t do a refund but as my plan will save me a day’s food and camping I’m not too concerned.

At 1300 I press on to Croyde. There’s too much road walking so I turn inland a little and find myself on an ancient bridleway of bedrock. Lovely deep banks and the smell of apples. They’re too far gone to eat but the smell is lovely. I walk past orchards and wild apple trees growing out of hedges.

The coffee works its magic on me; I water lots of hedges and guzzle water to rehydrate.

Arriving at Putsborough I’m greeted by yet another sandy beach at low tide.

At Woolacombe this campsite also has laundry facilities, however I don’t have enough change and the office is closed until 1800. It’ll have to wait for another day.

The promised rain arrives. At least it’ll be gone by morning. 🤞

I walked just 12km today. Not a zero day but a nero day!

I’ve gained a day by ducking out of road duties and then shifting along to Wollacombe. I’ll be home on Sunday. Lisa has offered to come and get me. ❤️