Saturday, 13 October 2012
Guess whos back!
Over a year later and I am getting the chance to do a couple of days walking! Not much has been happening re work and this has been the issue. Not working and no money does not make it easy. I now have moved house and will hopefully become a little more settled and able to feed the piggy so I can get on with my dream to keep walking.
Sounds a little sad but that is the way it is!
So back to the walk I go starting at Hartland -Lets make it easy why not!
after all it only describes it as perhaps the toughest walk of the whole path!!
Any way this time it is the luxury of a B&B at Morwentstow!
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Well a month on!
A month on and I have an interview on Monday - hopefully I will get the job and then I might manage to get some more proper walking done. I feel that this is going to be a long project!
When I first got back I really didn't want to be home but did enjoy getting home and sharing my photos and adventures with others but it was very frustrating to not be able to continue as I wanted!
When I first got back I really didn't want to be home but did enjoy getting home and sharing my photos and adventures with others but it was very frustrating to not be able to continue as I wanted!
Postcard 14 Clovelly - Hartland Quay 10 miles
Rise and Shine - today is going to be another strenuous day! We set off from Clovelly in full rain gear - I thought I don't do rain! Anyway fortunately it soon gives way to pleasant walking weather and although the pace is faster Graham kindly trails behind with me and does all the standard tactics to keep me on track! Hiro has now got a crush on Amber and is following her everywhere! This looks at best odd and at worst ridiculous as he is so tiny and having to do 3 steps to every 1 of Amber's!
Immediately we start with hills and steps and for a little while I am coping but I soon fall behind as I stagger up steps and hills sounding like a steam train!
The fantastic thing about walking with others is that you dont have to read maps but the downside is that you haven't got a clue what you are passing especially if you are really feeling like you are having to march!
We go past Blackchurch Rock and I naively ask if it is Hartland Point! I was soon to discover that it wasn't that was much more impressive! We do eventually hit Hartland Point and that is quite a nice point with signal masts and a tea hut about a mile on from that! A very welcome stop! I managed to lose my lens cap for my camera as we approached the lighthouse and when we reached the tea house 2 people that we had seen on our path were at the tea house - it transpired that they had found the cap and realised that it could be mine and had jumped in their car and tracked us down at the tea stop! I was incredibly relieved to have it returned but felt really bad as I had no money with which to buy them at least a coffee for all their trouble.
We reached Hartland Quay which was a wonderfully hidden little pub/ hotel / museum and car park! A very successful end to a lot of walking and walking with 3 others for the past 2 days had shown me that I really do prefer sole walking most of the time if it were not for lack of conversation because Hiro although expressive is not such a good conversationalist!
Immediately we start with hills and steps and for a little while I am coping but I soon fall behind as I stagger up steps and hills sounding like a steam train!
The fantastic thing about walking with others is that you dont have to read maps but the downside is that you haven't got a clue what you are passing especially if you are really feeling like you are having to march!
We go past Blackchurch Rock and I naively ask if it is Hartland Point! I was soon to discover that it wasn't that was much more impressive! We do eventually hit Hartland Point and that is quite a nice point with signal masts and a tea hut about a mile on from that! A very welcome stop! I managed to lose my lens cap for my camera as we approached the lighthouse and when we reached the tea house 2 people that we had seen on our path were at the tea house - it transpired that they had found the cap and realised that it could be mine and had jumped in their car and tracked us down at the tea stop! I was incredibly relieved to have it returned but felt really bad as I had no money with which to buy them at least a coffee for all their trouble.
We reached Hartland Quay which was a wonderfully hidden little pub/ hotel / museum and car park! A very successful end to a lot of walking and walking with 3 others for the past 2 days had shown me that I really do prefer sole walking most of the time if it were not for lack of conversation because Hiro although expressive is not such a good conversationalist!
Postcard 13 Westward Ho - Clovelly
Woken this morning by Ambers owner inviting Hiro and I to join their party for the next 2 days. 45 mins to get ready - I have never moved so fast and Hiro is quite shocked at the momentum!
I was soon to discover that they walk quite a bit faster than me with less stops so this is really going to push my limits!
The route is challenging and although only 11 miles there are lots of hills and steps. Ambers owner (Spencer ) is off like a rocket and leads the way the whole time. Christine is fab and although she is quick I dont feel stressed by trying to keep up with her! Her husband Graham is a sweetie and generously cajoles me to climb the next hill without dying in the process! I am in return feeling incredibly hot and stripping layer after layer much to the amusement of the whole group! Equally I am trying to keep up but at one point I just have to stop and draw breath and have lunch way before they planned! Mental memo to self eat a proper breakfast tomorrow!
I was soon to discover that they walk quite a bit faster than me with less stops so this is really going to push my limits!
The route is challenging and although only 11 miles there are lots of hills and steps. Ambers owner (Spencer ) is off like a rocket and leads the way the whole time. Christine is fab and although she is quick I dont feel stressed by trying to keep up with her! Her husband Graham is a sweetie and generously cajoles me to climb the next hill without dying in the process! I am in return feeling incredibly hot and stripping layer after layer much to the amusement of the whole group! Equally I am trying to keep up but at one point I just have to stop and draw breath and have lunch way before they planned! Mental memo to self eat a proper breakfast tomorrow!
postcard 12 Barnstaple - Instow- Bideford - Appledore
Barnstaple - Bideford What can I say? Tarmac virtually the whole way - painfully boring! The only let up was at East Yelland Marsh where the path went round the marsh and I saw a Lizard - I was so surprised I didnt get a chance to take a photo!
It was very demoralising and I ws losing the will!! Anyway the marsh eventually led on to sand and Hiro really enjoyed the sands of Instow oh and the ice cream! Then it was back on the Tarka Trail again all the way to Bideford up to the Long Bridge by now my feet were really hurting and I didnt want to play!
Bideford to Appledore was far nicer and more interesting winding my way allong the shore and even a few little hills and to be honest if I had parked at Westward Ho! I would have walked it happily as the weather was good and the walking was pleasant!
I then had to book into a campsite and as I arrived there was Amber + owner and other couple! I am sure they think I am following them - Im not it is the only campsite in the area! Still it is a nice site with good showers that dont act like swimming pool showers going off after a few seconds and hot! woo hoo!
It was very demoralising and I ws losing the will!! Anyway the marsh eventually led on to sand and Hiro really enjoyed the sands of Instow oh and the ice cream! Then it was back on the Tarka Trail again all the way to Bideford up to the Long Bridge by now my feet were really hurting and I didnt want to play!
Bideford to Appledore was far nicer and more interesting winding my way allong the shore and even a few little hills and to be honest if I had parked at Westward Ho! I would have walked it happily as the weather was good and the walking was pleasant!
I then had to book into a campsite and as I arrived there was Amber + owner and other couple! I am sure they think I am following them - Im not it is the only campsite in the area! Still it is a nice site with good showers that dont act like swimming pool showers going off after a few seconds and hot! woo hoo!
Postcard 10 rain rain and hail stones!
Today (Monday)the plan was to go back to Lee and continue my walk towards Croyde and further ideally Braunton as that is where Lobb Fields is!
Anyway following a little windy but wet night I decided to set off with the thinking that it could only get better. To get to Lee we needed to walk into Braunton (1 mile) then get a bus to Ilfracombe and then a connecting bus to Lee. As there was only 3 buses a day to Lee it was important to get there asap! By the time Hiro and I got to Ilfracombe we had had 2 rainfalls that were sufficient to make Hiro rather keen on missing puddles and raindrops and diving in doorways seemed to be his ploy! It was clear that he was not enjoying this so we went and bought an all singing windproof, waterproof padded coat! To say he looked even less impressed is an understatement but he wore it with good grace but hardly with an impassioned thank you!
We got on the bus to Lee and as we were driving down to the bay it began to hail great big lumps! There is no way that I was going to go out in that and Hiro was visibly disturbed that he was going to have to go out in it! The bus driver chuckled when I told him I was going back with him! I know it was pathetic but the walk from Lee was deemed to be a little strenuous and approximately 5 miles before I would reach Croyde and I genuinely do not believe in getting wet for the sake of it. So we headed back home!
Walking back from Braunton to the campsite we got soaked to the skin and it seemed to underwrite the sense of not going walking today! As I got back to the tent I discovered that the 2 couples that I had seen through out my adventure was on my site. I stood talking to the 'stay at home wife' moaning for quite some time. It felt good to have a moan but felt humbled that they had gone walking and were getting very wet!
After a reviving cat nap we drove into Barnstaple and I found the only internet access point apart from the library which was charging a rediculous £2.30 per 1/2 hour!!!
So 1 and 1/2 hours later I emerged having completed an application cv and getting back in touch with the real world!
Forcast is better for tomorrow - so bring it on or else I am going home - cant see the point of paying campsite fees if I am not walking.
Anyway following a little windy but wet night I decided to set off with the thinking that it could only get better. To get to Lee we needed to walk into Braunton (1 mile) then get a bus to Ilfracombe and then a connecting bus to Lee. As there was only 3 buses a day to Lee it was important to get there asap! By the time Hiro and I got to Ilfracombe we had had 2 rainfalls that were sufficient to make Hiro rather keen on missing puddles and raindrops and diving in doorways seemed to be his ploy! It was clear that he was not enjoying this so we went and bought an all singing windproof, waterproof padded coat! To say he looked even less impressed is an understatement but he wore it with good grace but hardly with an impassioned thank you!
We got on the bus to Lee and as we were driving down to the bay it began to hail great big lumps! There is no way that I was going to go out in that and Hiro was visibly disturbed that he was going to have to go out in it! The bus driver chuckled when I told him I was going back with him! I know it was pathetic but the walk from Lee was deemed to be a little strenuous and approximately 5 miles before I would reach Croyde and I genuinely do not believe in getting wet for the sake of it. So we headed back home!
Walking back from Braunton to the campsite we got soaked to the skin and it seemed to underwrite the sense of not going walking today! As I got back to the tent I discovered that the 2 couples that I had seen through out my adventure was on my site. I stood talking to the 'stay at home wife' moaning for quite some time. It felt good to have a moan but felt humbled that they had gone walking and were getting very wet!
After a reviving cat nap we drove into Barnstaple and I found the only internet access point apart from the library which was charging a rediculous £2.30 per 1/2 hour!!!
So 1 and 1/2 hours later I emerged having completed an application cv and getting back in touch with the real world!
Forcast is better for tomorrow - so bring it on or else I am going home - cant see the point of paying campsite fees if I am not walking.
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