Hell Mouth to Perranporth: a mammoth day!

What an epic day: we left the campsite at 9am and got back at 9pm. Apart from 45minute lunch break, Today we walked for over 7hrs with just short stops for water and to get my breath back. 

In an attempt to reduce the last leg of this stretch between Newquay to St Ives from 18miles, i decided to extend the first two stretches. Remind me not to do that again! 

So this morning we left at 9am to drive into Newquay and leave the motorhome in the long stay car park to catch the 'one' and only bus of the day which stops at the coastal villages. Firstly we needed to pay for two parking spaces for the motorhome: to make an automated payment, you need to register - this took bloody ages. We were then forced to play chase with the 'one' and only bus in an attempt to catch it! We did - it rained. 

Seventy minutes later the bus dropped us at Hell Mouth: the driver asked 'are you sure you want to do this?'. Hell mouth is the name of a a little headland between Portreath and Hayle, there is a small National Trust cafe at the headland. Of course we stopped for a cuppa tea and wee before setting off at about midday.  

Initially the first couple of miles was flat, easy walking, then we negotiated a couple of very steep sided valleys. After about 3.5 miles we reached Portreath, as it was lunch time we decided to stop for fish and chips in a very nice cafe. Nice meal, nice cafe, unfortunately Colins chair disintegrated from under him: all in slow motion. He wasn't injured, but it was funny, he didn't agree. 

The next section Portreath to Perranporth is described as challanging: moderate to strenuous. Again steep valleys: with lots of short, sharp ascents and descents. Rugged cliffs, narrow, stony paths and lots of old mines, mostly tin mines. We saw the remnants of old buildings, chimneys, capped mine shafts and spoil heaps. 

We had originally planned to stop at St Agnes (catch the bus back ftom there) but when i saw the hill that needed negotiating to reach the bus stop i elected to walk another 3 miles to Perranporth! 

Thank god the weather brightened up: sun, blue sky's and very windy. It has been a very long day, i would go as far as saying - epic. I was knackard at 9 miles, shattered at 12 miles and broken by 16.75miles: a mix of emotions throughout the day. 

I fell twice through the walk (my first falls in the whole trip so far: not bad for a regular faller). Once on my bum (bounced straight back up!), second forward on  my knee's: now both grazed... hey ho! 

Apart from wishing i'd worn my walking boots (very stony today) instead of my trainers, both feet are managing well: i guess i should wait to see what i wake up to in the morning before feeling 100% confident that all is now well. Plus i wore my full rucksack all day today so that might have an impact. 

At the top of a very long climb, we came across the remains of a complex of buildings. Colin dryly said (Comment of the day):

'I think we've walked to Machu Picchu'

Fitbit records: 45,761 steps, 20miles and 287 flights of stairs. 

Anyhow's i'm shattered, here's a few photo's; i'll do more tomorrow: 

 

 

 
  

Comments

  1. Hiks4 June 2017 at 07:45

    Love the beard, photos of you please! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sarah4 June 2017 at 09:11

    God it looks fantastic. I am really excited now. It's going to take me a lot to catch up with your level of fitness - bloody well done! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4 June 2017 at 09:52

    Hi I think you get the falling of off your mum. Perranporth has a lot of memories for us the beach is beautiful. I dont think you will be able to go to far for the next couple of days but hey the weather may get better when Sarah gets with you. A few more photo,s of you and Colin perhaps paddling the water may do your foot good. Lots of love Mum XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown4 June 2017 at 20:42

      Yep, i think my ability to trip and fall on flat surfaces comes from you mother: as does my boobs and chins. From dad i've inherited sturdy legs, the love for the outdoors and allotments. I've just discovered one other thing: how much i enjoy riding on a bus!

      Delete
    2. Unknown4 June 2017 at 20:46

      By the way i dipped my feet in the big pool today: its amazing how good sand is for hard skin - my feet are now lovely and smooth.

      Delete
  4. Unknown6 June 2017 at 13:14

    The comment I put on here, that seems to have disappeared was that we stayed in a horrible little cottage in Portreath a few years ago. Portreath was lovely though and the scenery all around was fantastic. We went to Hell Mouth, and had a lovely cream tea at the cafe there. Remembering how steep it was - don't envy you having to walk up and down loads of those hills.

    ReplyDelete

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