Day 10 - Port Isaac to Boscastle - 14.8 miles

A walker I'd met yesterday had warned that today was going to be a long and thirsty day so I decided to get a picnic lunch from a local small bakery in town.

It was here that I met Chris and Abby. Chris told me that five years ago, his fish fingers had been selected as the best in UK and as he said "no one's been been back to collect the trophy!" so.....! 

Chris mentioned he had some new trumps up his sleeve for this season. I was sworn to secrecy but I can say they involve a finger roll, a new tartare sauce recipe and....peas! He offered to make me one there and then but as I was still reeling from a large breakfast at The Slipway, I declined on the basis of squashing it into my pack and eating it cold for lunch wouldn't do it any kind of justice! 

The climb out of Port Isaac is steep but this didn't compare with the long, steep ascents out of St Illickswell Gug and Filly Horse. Stopping to catch my breath on the way, I met Sheelagh and Jan and we got into a conversation about wild swimming. Sheelagh is an all year round sea swimmer.

Jan told me of the increasing awareness of the beneficial effects of wild swimming for those who suffer with Parkinsons disease. I mentioned my blog and promised to share details.

A significant part of the inspiration for this walk came from my reading Chris Francis' excellent book " Stroll On" with his account of his end-to-end walk. I'd heard that Chris and his wife Kirsty were planning to be on holiday in the area and following a call yesterday they'd kindly offered to join me for this section of the walk.

We met at Tregonnick Point and walked on to Trebarwith Strand. Over a well deserved coffee, Kirsty presented me with some delicious Fiery Ginger shortbread biscuits from Walls (pronounced Waz) in Shetland.

After coffee and a delicious biscuit I felt fully armed for the remaining walk.

I've been struck this week by how small a world this is and on the way to Trebarwith

our paths crossed with Phil and Sarah. Chris and Phil had last met when trekking in Nepal four years ago.

How's that for a coincidence??

As Chris and Kirsty headed back uphill to their house, I was fired up with the Fiery biscuits and sprang up the steep ascent from Trebarwith and on to Dunderhole Point.

You can't walk past Tintagel without being drawn by the Arthurian legend bit!

There's now a stylish pedestrian bridge which connects Tintagel island with the mainland. It crosses high over the deep ravine below.

Over the years, archaeological digs have revealed a number of interesting buildings but the signage leaves most to the imagination - probably rightly so.

The distant views in all directions are likely to explain its strategic location.

The 5 miles from Tintagel to Boscastle was a struggle and I was glad to eventually reach to long descent into the town with its unfeasibly tight harbour entrance.

I'd arranged to meet Neil Brading - a friend from school days who'd offered to join me for the next few days of the walk.  I'd been his best man over 40 years ago.

We plan to enjoy a few beers over the next few days! 

Total distance so far = 107 miles

Total ascent so far = 15 391 feet

Here's a reminder of the excellent charities I have elected to support.....

 

- Parkinsons UK   - My dad had Parkinsons in his latter years and the research work this charity funds and the support it provides to patients and their families is invaluable. - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas215

- RNLI   - these are the brave guys who selflessly head out to sea to help others. I volunteer at Littlehampton RNLI shop and often meet families of those who’ve had first hand experience of their loved ones being saved from the sea. Having sailed for years I can say thankfully we’ve never had to call on the RNLI's services but it’s amazing what it does to know they are there 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas216    

- Just Wheels UK  - this is a small charity set up to provide wheelchairs to the disabled in a rural community in Tanzania. It does this through funding training, education and the local fabrication and servicing of bespoke wheelchairs. My nephew uses a wheelchair and as he grows I can see the liberation that good wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.- 

 https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a056900002H35TDAAZ