Rob Setter's South West Coast Path Ramblings: Blog 17: Port Isaac to Rock (Padstow). "Quick, someone fetch the Doc". Bus Stop Regulars.

Hello all.

Well, today is a rest day, and when I imagined what it would be like, I thought I would have completed my blog well before now. It's gone 4.00 and I'm just getting started. What I have done is: tidy out the van (more about the van in later blogs), had a lovely breakfast of bacon and eggs, caught up with some news from home (yes, Jennie is with me), read the first two chapters of my book "Armadale" by Wilkie Collins, sorted out some arrangements for future walks and places to park/stay etc, had a lovely lunch of salad produce from the garden at home including some asparagus, drank some more wine and washed out some clothes while dodging the showers. It has been great here in the campsite at Porthcothan and it is nice to be sleeping and relaxing in the big tent for a couple of days. But it's back to it tomorrow with my feet in fair condition and no particular aches and pains to hamper me.

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"Quick, someone fetch the Doc".

What is there to say about Port Isaac (Port Wenn)?

The place is Doc Martin bonkers (and they all seem to have a case of the Poldark fever there too).

There were people queuing outside the house where the Doc is supposed to live. One by one they would step up onto the terrace in front of the front door and gleam at the camera as if it was the greatest day of their lives. Americans, Germans, Chinese, other nationalities, Cornish and English all took their turn. The last time I was in Port Isaac it was a little less frantic, but back then the poor people who really live in the house had fixed a message to their window saying something like: "A family lives in this house, Please respect our privacy".

Today there is a sign that says "House to Let".

I have stopped watching Doc Martin. In fact I probably only watched a couple of series.

"They are about to start filming series six", said the owner of the cafe where I was sitting eating flapjack and drinking tea. This was in response to a load of questions from some tourists who had popped in for some ice-creams. She answered all of their inquiries with practiced knowledge, and they left in a hurry because there was a rumour that one of the characters (the round jovial cafe owner I believe) was down by the harbour. "He's there most days", she told them.

After they left and I was the only person in the cafe, I asked her if she gets a bit fed up with all the stuff about Doc Martin and all the questions and the crowds.

"Oh no, I love it".

"Well, I expect it helps with business".

"It does, we sell a lot of ice-cream".

I had noticed that the price of ice-creams was pretty steep in Port Isaac so I can understand her joy I suppose.

"They are about to start filming series six. Filming starts on Wednesday. Martin is already in town!"

That's Martin Clunes by the way.

"He's a really nice man" she said.

"I'm sure he is."

One thing I have noticed about the programme is that there is always a new character in each episode, who is usually quite a famous actor. They have just or recently arrived in Port Wenn.

When the Doc meets them for the first time he tends to annoy them by being rude or extremely direct. So, they don't like him.

After about 5 minute of the story they will wobble at bit, or scratch some part of their body, or cough, or sneeze, or twitch, or fall asleep, go red or white. The Doc will spot this instantly and diagnose something unusual, demonstrating his amazing skills. But the trouble is he has next to no social graces or bedside manner. They will ignore him.

After about 30 minutes they will be extremely close to death and will be discovered by the gormless police officer who will run around in circles three or four times then shout :

"Quick, someone fetch the Doc". (Personally I think an ambulance is a better idea.)

The Doc will come running down the hill carrying his old fashioned doctor's bag, being chased by a dog. (The Doc hates dogs.)

When he gets to the patient he saves their life by a wonderful bit of doctor technique.

"Somebody get rid of that yapping dog", he will say and all the characters will smile and raise their eyebrows.

The character who was ill, and then saved by the Doc will never be seen in Port Wenn again.

Pictures of Port Wenn (Port Isaac) All taken the day after the bank holiday Monday when the crowds had cleared.

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Bus Stop Regulars

Walking the Coast Path using the method that I have chosen involves catching a bus once or even twice a day. This can be a stressful experience.

Checking the timetables online, checking them at the bus stop, finding the bus stop, checking with a local person if it is the correct bus stop, is a part of the task. After all missing a bus is a bit of a disaster as they don't run very often.

I have been people watching while standing at the bus stops. Most of the people seem to be pleased to see someone else standing at the stop, this means that you are probably in the correct place.

It doesn't take long for a conversation to break out usually starting with a question about where we are all going. Once we are all happyish that we are standing in the right place, on the correct side of the road and agreeing what time to expect the bus, we then can then have a more rounded conversation.

For two days now, first at Port Isaac and the next day at Rock, I have bumped into Gary and Karen. In fact it's pretty much the only place I have seen them along the walk. We have had a really good laugh together at the the stop and on the journey to our respective destinations. They have heard from other walkers that I am writing a blog, which did have the effect of boosting my ego to terrifying levels. I asked them if they would like the address of the blog and of course they did.

"I'll give you a mention".

Gary and Karen are very funny and very cheerful people.

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Two Pictures that I like