I'm going to joined for the next few days by Neil. It's going to be great to have his company as far as Clovelly.
As we left the hotel entrance and while tying up our boots, we were joined by a tiny friend. He, like we, had a big day ahead!
The reputation of the next two sections of the walk, Boscastle - Bude and Bude - Hartland Quay is that they are toughest of the end to end walk.
Fueled with a breakfast of large bowls of porridge we were braced for the day and prepared for the steep ascent out of Boscastle.
Looking down at the harbour entrance, we could only imagine the courage and
skill that would have been needed to bring a large sailing ship in to harbour.
As we walked along Beeny Cliff, we were greeted by a family of noisy Stonechats - we heard their call - similar to two small stones being hit together, throughout the remainder of the day.
We managed 2 miles in the first hour but maintaining that speed over the day proved difficult as each successive steep ascent and descent took its toll.
Along the way we met a working party of National Trust volunteers. From a distance, in their red shirts, we thought they'd looked like Liverpool FC on tour. We'd almost expected to bump in to Mo Salah!
Having already carried their spades, pickaxes and wheelbarrows for a number of miles they all looked rightly deserving of a mid-morning coffee break.
The day featured a succession of steep ascents and descents often with 150 steps or more !!!
On reaching the top of any climb, you feel that you should celebrate surviving each one.
A short distance from Crackington Haven we interrupted a 60th birthday party and enjoyed a chat with Maxine (from Monmouth) and Jenny (proud of her DNA from the Rhondda).
We quickly deduced that they were also on their way to Crackington Haven so to ensure we got there before all the coffee ran out we grudgingly continued on our way.
A lumch stop at Crackington Haven provided some welcome respite. It was very tempting to linger and enjoy the sound of the gentle stream in warm sunshine.
After lunch the steep ascents continued. Chipman Point and The Dizzard was my particular low point with a seemingly endless staircase of steps and steep ramps. The rise of many steps being 450mm or more.- soul destroying!
Jonathan, a geologist friend had texted me that morning to ensure that we savoured the particular rock formations around Millook. The folds in the rock are amazing
The steep ascents continued......!
Eventually at Widemouth Bay, (mile 14, the route thankfully became easier as we initially walked along the beach where we met
Steve and his team of RNLI Lifeguards - still patrolling the beach at 18:00.
Neil was impressively still in his 'yomping' mode as we finally reached Bude - after an arduous 18 miles and over 4000 feet of ascent. Knackering!
Neil described Bude as a town the Victorians didn't quite finish!! At least it was good to see that the EU had done their bit to help - an EU flag was still proudly flying over what we assumed was the EU funded refurbishment of the canal and sea lock.
We had a delicious dinner at Temple, which curiously enough was the only building in Bude that I'd ever been in to previously when it was an architect's office almost 25 years ago.
It was tempting to have another drunk but that would have destroyed our chances for tomorrow and ever getting to Hartland Quay. Onward.....!!
Total distance so far = 125.2 miles
Total ascent so far = 19 508 feet
If you're tempted to contribute to the great charities I'm supporting, here are the relevant links.
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 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 life changing freedoms that proper wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.-
https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a056900002H35TDAAZ
4,000 feet and 18 miles is a massive achievement. So glad you had a friend along to keep spirits up. Congratulations to you both!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike. Walking on the South Downs didn't prepare me for this. It was great to have Neil's company and fortunately we both walk at the same speed.
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