Final Post: the end

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 window boxes (i'm behind with this years displays!). I even squeezed some time in for the tour de france. 

With all good intentions to write up my final blog on Wednesday, events and good weather overtook me. For a long time now Colin has wanted to cycle from Cambridge to  

Hunstanton (we recce'd the route about two years ago) and Wednesday turned out to be the day. As support vehicle, and soigneur (in cycling terms this means i'm Colins carer), i was on hand to offer a variety of support: 

1) refreshments - i stood at the side of the road holding out a carrier bag full of jam sandwiches for him to grab on the way passed. 

2) technical - 'so where does this washer go?''

3) emotional - 'come on Colin you can do it'

4) time checks - '10, maybe 15 or 20 mile to go... not far!)

It was a lovely day, we avoided the main roads and wound our way along Fenland and Norfolk single track lanes: Welney, 10 mile bank, Denver sluice, Marham, West Acre... until we arrived at old Hunstanton leading into new. The country side looked beautiful, such big sky's, i was jealous that i was in the car instead of cycling with Colin. A great achievement, 80 miles with a hilly finish. 

Before getting to the techical data concerning the walk i thought i would share with you something that happened prior to us leaving the campsite in Cornwall (i'm still giggling). With the motorhome all packed and ready to go, it was time for one last wee before setting off. I found the toilet block was closed for cleaning, so thought i would look for another WC so headed to the on site 'tavern' which also housed the swimming pool. I wandered around looking for the entrance, i found the doors locked, but further along the way (the same building) a women stood in a conservatory entrance: I thought she waved to me, so i headed towards her. I opened the door and let myself in asking 'is there a toilet around here, the main block is closed', the women looked slightly suprised and stumbled over her words before responding 'yes just through there, i'll get them to show you'. I then looked closely at the group of people I thought had been getting ready for a swim, i also started to look at the surroundings. It turned out i had walked into the kitchen of a holiday accommodation,  and asked the family staying there if i could use their loo! They were so shocked they let me!!! Of course i apologised, but can't stop giggling about it. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time over the last seven weeks. Despite my initial aim to walk the whole path in one go, i always knew it was a big ambition that was unlikly to come to fruision: but you have to give it a go. Just the act of doing satisfied me. Not completing all 630 miles means that i have at least another half to walk, perhaps i can wangle another 8 weeks off in a few years time. 

I realised the South West Coast Path was a tough path to walk: the current record set in 2015 stands at 11 days 8.25hrs (a quicker time set last year of 10 days 15.18hrs - its all madness), especially when your 50 years old, overweight and sit behind a desk all day. I found each day hard, but i guess i'm fitter now than when i started. Despite the hard work, the sweating, the moaning i have only lost a total of half a stone which means i'm still considerably overweight... but at least i have a great suntan!!!

I would like to stress how amazing the coast line of Devon and especially Cornwall is, the views are out of this world. The colours of the sea are stunning and the beaches are noticeably white on the west coast, slowly turning golden and then to a greyish colour on the south part. I guess on the whole i was very lucky with the weather, but even on cloudy, or rainy days the views were lovely. 

In addition to the views the people we met along the way were fantastic: everyone is so friendly. It was hard to find time to be on your own; whether at a bus stop, on a bus, in a pub, sitting on a bench etc... people want to chat. We met some wonderful people and dogs. Everyone has a dog or two - the whole place is very Dog friendly. 

I want to thank Sarah for putting up with me for three weeks, and again i'm sorry that this body of mine is just not made for backpacking: i struggle to carry my own weight let alone an extra 11k. Thanks for joining me and bringing along Sue as a guest walker. Sarah i hope you enjoyed the bus rides as much as i did! And i agree the walk from Porthcurno to Cape Cornwall will go down in history as a best walk (my other favourite with you was the 'High Street' in the lakes). 

And now my thanks goes to Colin. Suprisingly over the weeks we have rubbed along well together. Spending so much intense time with one person (even if you do live with them) isn't always easy, but it was ok. It helps that we're both easygoing, flexible and happy to 'wing it'.  Colin suprised himself by how much he has enjoyed walking and didn't believe the UK has such amazing views: he's even purchased a rucksack, i think there maybe more future walking. Without Colin this whole experience would have been so much harder and might not of happened, so i thank you and love you. 

Thanks to all those people who followed my blog, in particular Pete, and my mum. I appreciate many of you struggled to leave comments, but text your support instead. I'm glad you all enjoyed the blogs as much as i enjoyed writing them. I've never completed a diary, but strangely found expressing my highs and lows quite cathartic... watch this space, there may be more blogs: 'julie in the community'. 

Now for the technical stuff:

Total path walked = 292 miles 

Total fitbit = 547.26 miles, Steps: 1,227,127 and flights of stairs 6,170 (61,700 feet (mt Everest is a mear 29,029 feet).

I think at this point i need to stress the fitbit recording shows every step i have taken from waking until sleep. I have included rest days as well as. 

The following is a breakdown of stages walked over the 7 weeks. 

Start 14th May 2017. 

Week one:

Minehead to Portlock Weir: = 10 miles

Portlock Weir to Lynmouth: = 11 miles

Lynmouth to Combe Martin: = 13.50 miles

Combe Martin to Woolacombe: 14 miles

Woolacombe to Braunton: problems with my tendon meant i missed a section of this walk (book miles: 15.25). My miles = 5.25.

Total: 53.75 miles

Week 2 (22nd May 2017):

Braunton to Westward Ho!: = 23.25 miles

Total: 23.25 miles (ongoing problems with my tendon)

Week 3 (29th May 2017):

Padstow to Porthcothan: 13.75 miles

Porthcothan to Newquay: 11.25 miles

Newquay to Perranporth: 11.25 miles

Perranporth to Portreath: 12 miles

Total: 48.25 miles

Week 4 (5th June 2017)

Portreath to St Ives: 18 miles

St Ives to Pendeen Watch: we split this over two days = 13.25 miles

Total 31.25 miles. 

Week 5 (12th June 2017)

Pendeen Watch to Porthcurno: there was about  a .50 miles of this section i didn't do (book miles: 15.5). My miles  = 15.

Porthcurno to Penzance: i walked to Mousehole, and missed out Penzance (book miles: 11.50). My miles = 9.

Penzance to Porthleven: see above. We started this walk at Marazion (book miles: 13.75). My miles = 10.

Porthleven to the Lizard: we missed out a short section in the middle (book miles: 13.75). My miles = 9.25.

Lizard to Porthallow: due to poor bus service, we only walked to Coverack (book miles 15.25). My miles = 11.25. 

Porthallow to Falmouth: due to poor bus service, missed the section between Pothallow to Helford Passage (book miles 16). My miles = 9. 

Total 63.50

Week 6 (19th June 2017)

Falmouth to Portloe: we split this over a few days = 13.75.

Portloe to Mevagissy: due to poor bus service and limited time (Sarah returning home) we missed out a section (book miles: 12). My miles = 5.75. 

Mevagissey to Polmear: split over a few days = 11.75. 

Total 31.25

Week 7 (26th June 2017)

Polmear to Polperro: missed the first section to Fowey estuary (book miles: 13). My miles = 7 miles

Polperro to Portwrinkle = 13 miles

Portwrinkle to Plymouth = 12.75 miles

Plymouth to Laira Bridge = 8 miles

Total 40.75

End: 2nd July 2017. 

Now for photo's: