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Final Post: the end

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With all the walking completed for this edition of the South West Coast Path, we arrived back in Cambridge Monday evening.  We said a sad farewell to the beloved motorhome. Once again a big thank you to John and Michelle for letting us borrow it. Having the motorhome has made a big difference to the whole experience, and to the progress made on the path: thank you both.  It was good to see the cats: Missy and Gary. I'm under no illusions that they missed or remembered me, only that i was another person to feed them. Even so, it was nice to have a cuddle. Another big thank you to the best neighbour in the world: Laetitia, who has looked after the cats while we have both been away. Missy and Gary have been spoilt rotten with smoked salmon! Laetitia has even done the vacuuming - she is great.  I spent the day on Tuesday pottering: getting the garden back in shape, doing the laundry, cleaning the kitchen and a quick visit to the garden centre to sort out some plants for the w...

Downderry to Cremyll/Plymouth: all done!

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This blog relates to Saturday.  In an attempt to make today the last walk by completing the full 17 miles, we arranged for the taxi to collect us early'ish. This meant we started walking at about 10am from Downderry: the end of yesterdays walk.  The path out of Downderry to Portwrinkle (2.5miles) was a combination of road, steps, meadow and narrow walkways. It can only be described as steep, it continued climbing for nearly a mile (parts of which were very steep).   The rest of the walk to Portwrinkle was a roller coaster, luckily not as steep as the first mile. It took about 70 minutes to walk 2.5miles: the terrain really does limit progress.  Once at Portwrinkle we rewarded ourselves to a nice cuppa tea at the 'jolly roger' cafe.  We pushed onto Tregantle: 2.75miles. Tregantle Fort was built in the 1800's to protect Plymouth and the coast from the dreaded French! The fort and land remains owned by the Ministry of Defence and is still used as a military firing ...

Talland Bay to Downderry

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This blogs relates to Friday.  Woke up this morning to... yes, you've guessed it: rain! Despite the miserable weather we thought we would go for it and walk.  There were lots of very, very steep ascents today, especially between Looe and Seaton: crikey they were steep. The path was a mix narrow cliff paths, woodlands, meadows and road walking.  The weather remained thickly overcast, with drizzle throughout. During the afternoon it got quite blustery. The forecast for the next few days are good.  Looe was a nice place, a very pretty estuary town. I imagine during the holidays the place is very popular. East Looe has a nice, big beach and easily accessible. After a quick cuppa tea we pressed on to up, up, up the hills to Seaton, finally ending todays walk in Downderry.  Like Looe i imagine that Seaton, Downderry and the other coastal villages are very busy during holidays, but sadly they all seem outdated. Maybe it was due to the dull, grey day, but Seaton and Dow...

Plymouth: Stonehouse to Laira Bridge

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This blog relates to Thursday.  Another night of persistent rain, it was so noisy on the roof of the motorhome i lay awake for a few hours listening to a downloaded radio drama of 'I, Claudius': its very good. It continued to rain heavy into the morning.  Rather than sit around in the motorhome for another day, and knowing the path would be muddy, slippery, with wet overgrown foliage (wet vegetation soaks the legs), we decided to head to Plymouth and spend the day completing the urban part of the coast path. Better to be wet and cold near a coffee shop than in the middle of no where.  Having left the motorhome in the Park and Ride by Plymouth Argyle, we headed to Admiral's Hard the location where the ferry from Cremyll arrives. The ferry across the river Tamar marks the point where we say goodbye to Cornwall and hello to Devon (South) again.  Of course by the time we arrived at the start of todays walk, we were ready for lunch which we found in a greasy cafe by the f...

Rain, rain go away!

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This blog relates to Wednesday.  It started raining yesterday evening about 6pm, and hasn't stopped all day. Either Sarah took the sun home with her or Colin forgot to bring it, either way i'd like a bit of good weather please.  The bad weather has meant no walking today. Heavy rain and cliff paths don't mix well together. I'm grateful to be hanging around in the motorhome with its heating, electric power, kettle and tv: its better than a one person tent!  I have managed to finish the book i bought in St Austell: a murder mystery set in Cambridge. And now carry on reading  'Into the wild', a true story book about a young man who try's to survive in the Yukon, Arizona, but died.  Anyway nothing to report today - sorry!  Fitbit records 2,250 steps, 1 mile, and 3 flights of stairs.  Photo of rain:   

Polruan to Talland Bay: Colin's back

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This blog relates to Tuesday.  Being in the motorhome provides all the comforts of home. Being in a tent for three weeks highlights how we take the simplist things for granted, such as making a cuppa tea when you want it.  We had an earlish start and caught the community bus to Polruan. Polruan is a small fishing village on the opposite side of the estuary to Fowey: a ferry runs between the two. Polruan is a very steep: the walk up the hill out of the village warmed up the muscles!  The book describes this section as: quite difficult, with lots of ascents and descents that prove tiring late in the day. Much like the stage discription for Mevagissy the text highlights lots of steps to climb: 120, 170, 160 etc... and yep, the path was another roller coaster. At times the path was overgrown with fern plants, but also a variety of meadow grasses and flowers - it was very pretty.  Despite being overcast, it was hot and muggy, with little breeze, which meant a lot of sweat...

Waiting for Colin

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This blog relates to Monday.  Today consisted of me waiting for Colin and the motorhome to drive from Cambridge to Charlestown.  It was a nice day: light cloud (hot at times) and slight breeze (chilli at times). I hung around outside the hotel which gets busy with tourists. Struck up a few conversations: Met a couple from Newmarket on holiday with their two dogs - they don't like the narrow, single track roads! Spent the day reading a second hand book: a thriller set in Cambridge. Maybe my next 'ambition' (not challenge) should be writing a book!  Hooray... Colin and the motorhome arrived, how lovely. All is good in the world.  Fitbit records: 10,942 steps, 4.8 miles, and 23 flight of stairs.  Photo's are a selection of my attempts at arty shots over the last few weeks, and by the way Pete i found Poldark in Charlestown.