Hello All.
I have now arrived in the home of King Arthur and a lot of people who like to dress up. I had intended to stay on a campsite tonight so that I could get a shower. So I asked a delightful woman who worked in a tearoom in Crackington Haven if she could recommend a campsite near Tintagel and in all good faith she did. When I got to the site I was surprised by the security that greeted me. There were signs galore and barriers stopping me from entering, so I got out of the van and walked towards the reception. I didn't even get close.
"No vans" shouted a woman from behind a fence.
"There is only me and I am sleeping in my van".
"Yes, but it is not a camper van".
"Well I am sort of camping in it is that alright?"
"Ok I think I will go somewhere else. Could you recommend anywhere?"
"Not really. You might find someone who will take you in Tintagel".
I left.
I wonder what she looked like!
Anyway. I need to go back two days to deal with an incredible struggle from Hartland Point to Bude.
Blimey! That is some walk. It is a fantastic bit of the coastline, but when looking for a walk that sums up elements of the coast path, you couldn't go far wrong in suggesting this as an example of a particularly difficult walk. I feel that when you have made the effort to struggle up a hill leaving you gasping for breath and your legs in a state of jellyness it would be reasonable for the next stretch to be level. But, when you do get to the top you see the path plummet down,down, down to sea level only to immediately climb back up again.
By the time I got to Bude I had been walking for 8 hours and was absolutely exhausted.
And this is where Simon comes into the story. I believe that the first time that I met Simon was in Woolacombe.
Simon is now officially my biggest fan, having driven all the way from Exmouth to Woolacombe just to get a photo himself with me.
A day or so later he suggested that he may be able to find me somewhere to park for free in Bude.
He did, and I left the van there all day. Jennie dropped me back to Hartland Quay so that I could walk to Bude. As I was nearing Bude Simon let me know that he had sorted it out for me to park for the night at Bude football club. This a great result.
Thank you Simon. You are a star.
Later that evening my friends Colin and Jane met me and took me out for a meal. Liver and Bacon followed by trifle all washed down with 3 pints of Tribute. They then drove me back to the football ground before driving all the way back home. It was lovely to see them.
Today I drove the van to Crackington Haven and met up with Anna and Terry who I have known for many years and we did a bit of car/van shuffling, then walked from Bude to C H.
I had mentioned to Terry that I could do with some jelly babies and asked if he could pick me up a couple of bags.
The twelve bags he brought along with the delicious homemade cookies from Anna will keep me going for quite some time.
We had a lovely walk across the cliffs and chatted away all day.
I really do have some very good fans and friends. Thanks to you all.
Hello Kernow
Yesterday I crossed a border. It doesn't feel very different, but I know that I won't be coastal walking in Devon again for ages, in fact not until June 2nd.
It's just as well there is plenty of Tribute to get me through.
........................................................................................................
I had to end there last night as I had a mini crisis. So I'm picking up the story again this morning Sunday 5th May.
Jennie phoned me to ask if I had checked if the buses are running on Sunday. I hadn't, but when I did I discovered that they weren't.
Scuppered!
So, I put out a plea on Facebook and at about 10.00pm my good friends Tom and Vicki rang to say that they (or rather Vicki) fancied a walk and they would join me. Brilliant.
So although the plans were back to normal, I was too emotionally scared to carry on blogging. So I made a cup of tea and went to bed.
I have woken to a beautiful morning and have put on my shorts. A fine pair of Devonshire, hairless, white legs are now on show. Oh the lucky Cornish.
One last thing about the long walk from Hartland to Bude is this: I came across a small sign which directed me off the coast path. The path took me down the cliff a little distance to a Hawker's Hut. It was the most wonderful thing to find along the way. Inside there was enough room to sit a few people and there were many messages (old and new) carved into the driftwood interior walls. I would have loved to have stayed longer to explore but I was very much up against it time wise. So I walked on.
I have now arrived in the home of King Arthur and a lot of people who like to dress up. I had intended to stay on a campsite tonight so that I could get a shower. So I asked a delightful woman who worked in a tearoom in Crackington Haven if she could recommend a campsite near Tintagel and in all good faith she did. When I got to the site I was surprised by the security that greeted me. There were signs galore and barriers stopping me from entering, so I got out of the van and walked towards the reception. I didn't even get close.
"No vans" shouted a woman from behind a fence.
"There is only me and I am sleeping in my van".
"Yes, but it is not a camper van".
"Well I am sort of camping in it is that alright?"
"Ok I think I will go somewhere else. Could you recommend anywhere?"
"Not really. You might find someone who will take you in Tintagel".
I left.
I wonder what she looked like!
Anyway. I need to go back two days to deal with an incredible struggle from Hartland Point to Bude.
Blimey! That is some walk. It is a fantastic bit of the coastline, but when looking for a walk that sums up elements of the coast path, you couldn't go far wrong in suggesting this as an example of a particularly difficult walk. I feel that when you have made the effort to struggle up a hill leaving you gasping for breath and your legs in a state of jellyness it would be reasonable for the next stretch to be level. But, when you do get to the top you see the path plummet down,down, down to sea level only to immediately climb back up again.
By the time I got to Bude I had been walking for 8 hours and was absolutely exhausted.
And this is where Simon comes into the story. I believe that the first time that I met Simon was in Woolacombe.
Simon is now officially my biggest fan, having driven all the way from Exmouth to Woolacombe just to get a photo himself with me.
A day or so later he suggested that he may be able to find me somewhere to park for free in Bude.
He did, and I left the van there all day. Jennie dropped me back to Hartland Quay so that I could walk to Bude. As I was nearing Bude Simon let me know that he had sorted it out for me to park for the night at Bude football club. This a great result.
Thank you Simon. You are a star.
Later that evening my friends Colin and Jane met me and took me out for a meal. Liver and Bacon followed by trifle all washed down with 3 pints of Tribute. They then drove me back to the football ground before driving all the way back home. It was lovely to see them.
Today I drove the van to Crackington Haven and met up with Anna and Terry who I have known for many years and we did a bit of car/van shuffling, then walked from Bude to C H.
I had mentioned to Terry that I could do with some jelly babies and asked if he could pick me up a couple of bags.
The twelve bags he brought along with the delicious homemade cookies from Anna will keep me going for quite some time.
We had a lovely walk across the cliffs and chatted away all day.
I really do have some very good fans and friends. Thanks to you all.
Hello Kernow
It's just as well there is plenty of Tribute to get me through.
........................................................................................................
I had to end there last night as I had a mini crisis. So I'm picking up the story again this morning Sunday 5th May.
Jennie phoned me to ask if I had checked if the buses are running on Sunday. I hadn't, but when I did I discovered that they weren't.
Scuppered!
So, I put out a plea on Facebook and at about 10.00pm my good friends Tom and Vicki rang to say that they (or rather Vicki) fancied a walk and they would join me. Brilliant.
So although the plans were back to normal, I was too emotionally scared to carry on blogging. So I made a cup of tea and went to bed.
I have woken to a beautiful morning and have put on my shorts. A fine pair of Devonshire, hairless, white legs are now on show. Oh the lucky Cornish.
___________________________________
One last thing about the long walk from Hartland to Bude is this: I came across a small sign which directed me off the coast path. The path took me down the cliff a little distance to a Hawker's Hut. It was the most wonderful thing to find along the way. Inside there was enough room to sit a few people and there were many messages (old and new) carved into the driftwood interior walls. I would have loved to have stayed longer to explore but I was very much up against it time wise. So I walked on.
The walk from Bude to Crackington Haven was an absolute joy. Yes, there were quite a few ups and downs, but nothing like the previous day. Anna, Terry and I took it all at a steady pace and stopped a few times for coffee, snacks and a lovely lunch perched high on the cliffs looking back towards Bude and beyond.
Walking on my own is a joy for me, but it is a real pleasure walking with others too. Some people I have only just met like Jan and Andy from Cumbria, but I have walked with Jennie for some bits of the walk (always a delight) and as for Anna and Terry, we have all four walked together on many lovely occasions. And now today I get to walk with Vicki. It's all splendid.
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| A photo of Crackington Haven and me. Have I been eating too many jelly babys or is it just the way that my top falls? You decide! |
Well I've got a few things to do to get ready for another walk, so I'd better get on.
Here are two doses of Where's Robbie? Marvelous as always. That Robbie certainly gets about a bit.
Take it easy.
Rob.
hi rob, I love jellybabies too, but I always feel just a little guilty. do you go for the head first or body? love Pauline xxx
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