David's 2022 Walk - Lands'End to John o'Groats

Walking up the gradual climb from West Quantoxhead on to the Quantock Hills this morning there was no human sound to be heard. Just a wonderful cacophony of robin, chiff chaff, coal tit and blackbird. I heard my first cuckoo of the Summer.  Higher up on the hill, there aren't many trees...  and those that are, look lonely! From Beacon Point (1070 feet)  a path leads to a junction on  "The Great Road".   I've always been excited by the idea of a great road from when as children, if we went anywhere near the A5, dad would say, "if we stayed on that road, we'd go all the way to London" - with all the exciting images that would conjour! It's exciting to think of those who've walked these tracks before. Just along The Great Road these horses seemed timeless.  I stood still for ages watching them in silence. Beautiful. Apart from one mountain biker, I'd seen no one all morning. Eventua...

The view from my room at 5.40 this morning - unreal!   I met a couple over breakfast who were just starting their walk towards Lands' End. Oddly, because the last few weeks have been so good, I felt envious. I want to walk that coast again - it's wonderful. Minehead - where Billy Butlin met Frei Otto. Having checked-out of the Ship Aground  (disappointing breakfast) I wanted to look again at something that had caught my eye yesterday evening. With the kind help of Station Manager Ian, and volunteers Peter and John,  I needed to get a better view beyond a parked train that was in the way......! To get through the locked carriages, mention of (Taid) John Crompton was the key! Et voila!! Who keeps saying it's a small world?!?! The Coastal path initially heads out through sand dunes with the prospect of  3 miles of heavy going. Ah well! Tha...

Having missed out on Porlock Wier yesterday I decided to have a short walk there this morning. It'd add a few miles to the day but what the heck! First off though was a visit to St.Dubricius' church with it's truncated spire and wonderful interior. I'd got an incorrect impression of Porlock when I arrived yesterday evening. This morning everything was different. Businesses were open and there were people in the street. I stopped off at Bagatelle and met the owner Dave who has a great range of cards and vinyl records. He had some great photographs of Knebworth where he saw Genesis and Led Zeppelin and a particulalrly good shot of Jimmy Page in action.We talked Bout album covers for Yes, Blind Faith and Manfred Mann. I bought a card and needed a stamp and right next door there's the Post Office run by Andy who sells an amazing range of walking boots. I followed a easy, meandering, undulating path down to Porlock Weir.  The azale...