Surprisingly I don’t sleep well. Being indoors feels stuffy and hot. Even with the window open and the duvet pushed off. I’ve acclimatised to being outside then. Throughout the night the church bells chime and peal. It doesn’t disturb me. The peals are familiar but different with bits missing. I realise with sadness it’s my Continue reading

Fab campsite – it had hedges dividing the site. Why don’t other hillside sites do this to cut down the wind? I suppose views are more important. Though when you’ve spent ten hours looking at a view you want a good night’s kip. For the first time this hike I see an identical tent to Continue reading

I slept long last night. I head back to the coast walking along for a breaky. Talking of pasties I can now buy a different local brand every day, not a Ginsters or Chunk to be seen. Storm Agnes is landing soon. I keep checking the forecast as risk of life in coastal area is Continue reading

Very strong winds overnight, Beaufort 6-8. I slept in until 0700. Groggy slow start. Hand washing then putting on a wet shirt isn’t fun to begin with. Pop a middle layer over, walk hard for 20 minutes , then eat breaky in the sunshine makes things warmer and dryer. This morning over laundry I chatted Continue reading

Awake at 0500, set an alarm for 0700, then arise at 0600 as the buffeting wind and rain make me restless. Amazingly I slept for 5 hours, and the tent stayed up. I break camp and get walking at 0700. Despite the dreary clouds it feels wonderful moving again after sheltering overnight. At an appropriate Continue reading

At Hope Cove a seal bobs by the beach. I eat and drink breaky, he observes. I batch up with other walkers across the golf course. Safety in numbers. An inquisitive spaniel pushes through the gate with me. With a wry look the owner offers me a dog for the morning; If it can carry Continue reading

Up at 0600 to cold, heavy condensation overnight. No breeze has left everything sodden outside my tent inner. I found a blister on a toe – hadn’t felt it! My foot care regime and/or improved skin durability is working well. 👍 Although up early I didn’t leave until 0800. Clothes were so smelly, so a Continue reading

I’ve heard on the grapevine the ferryman at Yealm is tailing off service as the tourists depart. I hit Yealm at the weekend; hopefully there’ll be enough foot traffic then to make it worth his while to operate. Otherwise it’s a 9 mile detour inland which will put my post-Plymouth firing ranges walk-through in jeopardy. Continue reading

Pete and Anita share their home with their baby daughter Maeve and affectionate, bouncy dog Jess. While they’re out I spend the day indoors. I am a little retrospective as well as planning forwards. The SWCPA guide book has a suggested timeline of 52 days walking over 8 total weeks, including a roughly weekly rest Continue reading

My feet seem to have survived the five toe liner socks yesterday. No lube needed on the slipping heel and no silicone toe protector on the other big toe to prevent it rubbing on the next toe. 👍 Amazingly I’m a fifth of the way round. 200km walked. Yesterday I managed a smidge under 32km Continue reading