Day 56 Tuesday 11th June.

We went back to Mitchell for the start of what promised to be a wet and stormy day!

I was so lucky at the start of my walk in Scotland that the weather was good but I have to admit that by now I was expecting to be walking every day in shorts and sandals.

You would think I would know better than that, having spent almost 40 years in Cornwall.

So it had to be the rain poncho again. I have found it easier to use a poncho which covers me and my bag and can be taken off easily and rolled up when the sun comes out.

Today was slower than usual because of the wind and rain and obviously I was unable to take photos for much of the time.

I had a few setbacks too, quite early on I missed a turning so ended up walking further than I needed.

Then later I intended to walk a section of a ‘B’ road but it was so busy and the traffic so fast that it felt unsafe, so I took the first turning off of it and rerouted which added distance to the walk but was pleasanter and much safer.

I passed this interesting piece of architecture in the middle of nowhere!

I walked along one country lane that had the tallest foxgloves I have ever seen along one side. They were past their best but many were taller than me! They would have been truly stunning a few weeks ago.

On the way from Chacewater towards Scorrier I spotted these shoes and socks on the side of the road???

You never know what you will see when you are walking.

I was happy to finish my walking day on the outskirts of Redruth about 30 miles from Lands End and start a mini holiday.

Guess what….. it is Tuesday ……… and what is Tuesday? Steak night at Wetherspoons!

My choice is always the same 12oz rump, medium rare, with jacket potato and salad.

The John Francis Basset at Camborne produced the best steak of the walk…….so far …..

but there is another Tuesday before I finish!

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Day 55 Monday 10th June

Another day of mixed weather! The walk today started from the car park at the end of the Camel Trail and involved some good old Cornish Hills!

Quite a mixed walk today along the old coach road and past the Cornish Services, then onto the Goss Moor Trail just after the old Iron Bridge. That is the bridge that regularly had lorries wedged under it before the dual carriageway was opened avoiding it. Traffic in and old of Cornwall was stopped on many occasions for this reason.

As I took a short break in the car park at the start of the trail for a drink l spotted two red deer bounding through the undergrowth. Too quick for me to take their photo!

The trail was very quiet and I soon got to the far end of it and passed the Screech Owl Sanctuary.

Then came a walk through Indian Queens and Fraddon and I was excited to see my first glimpse of the sea on the north coast especially as the sun was shining on it despite the fact the clouds and showers were with me.

Ancient and modern!

Then it was on to St Enoder and narrow country lanes with high hedges for a few miles. I pressed on to Mitchell where I was picked up. About 18 miles walked.

I need to stop walking as far because I am getting very close to the end of the walk and I have too much time left!

We decided to drive to Perranporth for the evening. Yes, you are right, it was another Wetherspoons, The Green Parrott. I am not writing an ongoing advert for Wetherspoons it is just that the real ale is cheap and the food is reasonably priced.

At the beginning of this trip the majority of nights I cooked a meal in the camper to save money! As we are getting towards the end I am being rewarded by not having to cook so often, but our budget dictates where we can eat.

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Day 54 Sunday 9th June

I was taken back to the site of the Davidstow airfield early and started a lovely walk through the countryside and down through Camelford and out the other side.

It was good visibility so here are some Cornish countryside photos for you!

What a lovely day you are probably thinking……..well it was until I got to the start of the Camel Trail where the camper was waiting. As I was hungry I made a fried egg sandwich and whilst enjoying this brunch the heavens opened so I donned my rain cape and trudged on! The trail was very wet and I had to walk through puddles that came over my shoes!

Too wet for pictures until near the end of the 17 mile walk.

I was driven from the end of the trail into Bodmin where I spent a pleasant afternoon and evening with two college friends, Helen and Tanya who had come over from St Austell to offer their support.

We ate at Wetherspoons Chapel an Gansblydhen which incidentally was the chapel where Helen was married in 1970’s.

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Day 53 Saturday 8th June

Back on the road after a lazy day off due to the weather.

Climbing Cornish Hills to start the day!

It was a showery day and I needed my rain cape for the several heavy downpours.

Met a cyclist who was training for Lands End to John O’Groats but as we tried to have a conversation the heavens opened so we shook hands and went our separate ways!

Lovely Cornish countryside which I enjoyed despite the weather!

There just happened to be a quaint old pub on the route where we stopped for a little refreshment!

Carried on and was nearing the end of my walk along the edge of Bodmin moor to the deserted Davidstow airfield when my middle son Tom drew up alongside to offer his support.

He then came to Camelford with us and treated us to a meal.

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Day 52 Friday 7th June

Well yes the rains did come and as I am well ahead of schedule I decided not to walk today.

I hope tomorrow the weather will improve so that I can walk.

I don’t need to do big mileage but as the weather is not looking good for the next couple of weeks I want to take advantage of any dry spells.

I am looking forward to a diet of Cornish pasties, Clotted cream teas, Cornish Blackberry Mead, and Kelly’s Cornish Coffee Latte Ice Cream

If I have lost any weight on the way to Cornwall, I will certainly have gained it again by the time I get to Lands End!

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Day 51 Thursday 6th June

I was dropped back to the point I finished on Tuesday for an early start so that I could have a good days walking before the weather broke.

I started downhill on the way into Okehampton and had to walk through the town and climb the very steep hill out of the town to find the start of the Granite Way, a cycle path to Sourton.

With muscles barely awake, having had a rest day, the climb wasn’t easy!

The beginning of the Granite Way follows a disused railway line and at such an early hour it was deserted and thankfully, after the climb out of town, flat!

It was lovely to be walking with no traffic noise, no rain, and able to enjoy beautiful scenery on a bright clear morning.

I hadn’t decided how far I was going to walk today. I have been walking around 15 miles a day (instead of 20) since I realised I was going far too fast to arrive on my selected finish date.

It is always good to have some contingency for the unforeseen……..illness, injury, bad weather, support vehicle breakdown, support driver breakdown!!

So far luck has been on my side, the weather has been good, I have had no illness or injury, the only fault with the camper was in Kendal, perfect stopping place. (See Day ) and the support driver is doing a brilliant job!

One of the highlights of the walk today was crossing the Meldon Viaduct with the views of Dartmoor to the left.

Having received news of the approach of Storm Felix I made the decision that I would walk a longer day today to allow myself to sit out the storm tomorrow, supposing it bothers to show up!

After leaving the Granite Way at Sourton I walked past The Highwayman, one of the quirkiest pubs I have ever visited. I didn’t visit it this morning I hasten to add! It is only just off the A30 and well worth a visit. http://www.thehighwaymaninn.net/

I then headed towards the old A30 which was a great road to walk, very quiet and it passes through Lewdon, Lifton etc and brought back memories of the journey from Dorset to Cornwall before the new A30 opened……….remember the traffic jams behind the caravans on the single track roads?

I do love this green and pleasant land.

As the weather remained good I decided to cover just over 20 miles today and cross the border into Cornwall.

This would mean that there would be no need for me to walk in the torrential rain tomorrow.

I crossed the River Tamar and the sign welcoming me to Cornwall. Can’t believe it….782 miles walked.

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Day 50 Wednesday 5th June

As we especially chose Okehampton because they had a launderette it was more than a little disappointing to see a sign on the window stating there were no washing machines available as they were upgrading their boiler!!

I contacted Bundu Holiday Park and got permission to use their laundry. Thank you Bundu.

The rest of the day has been spent food & water shopping tidying and sorting belongings in the van and packing away laundry and catching up with this blog etc!

The other occupation has been deciding how to make the rest of the walk last 15 days when I could probably do it in 6!

My plan is to extend the Cornwall route and go and catch up with old friends. As I spent 40 years in Cornwall there are a lot of people I would love to see.

I am in the process of finding out who is available when and trying to make a plan.

Tomorrow I am likely to cross the final county border if the weather isn’t too bad.

If you want to get in touch my email address is junemayou@hotmail.com

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Day 49 Tuesday 4th June

As Black Dog is in the middle of nowhere we drove into Crediton for the night so that we could have beer and internet access at Wetherspoons. The journey involved plenty of hills and narrow roads!

So back to Black Dog for the start of today’s walk.

The first village to pass through was Morchard Bishop where there was an old cottage being thatched.

This was a sight that brought back memories of the thatched cottage where I lived until I was 8 years old, and to the time when I first dreamt of walking from John O’Groats to Lands End!

Not sure what the holes in this house are for ……. looked like dovecotes?

Saw this sign on a narrow country road……..didn’t see any kangaroos though!

How about this for a total renovation project?

As I walked on through more Devon lanes and tackled more hills the weather got worse. I walked several miles in the rain trying to keep from ripping my poncho on the brambles and dog rose bushes!

I walked almost into Okehampton.

Can’t believe it! Over 760 miles walked.

We are going to stay in Okehampton for two nights to catch up with the laundry, the blog, family communications etc and I am having a rest day from walking.

Oh and it is Steak night tonight!

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Day 48 Monday 3rd June

I was driven back to Sampford Peverell to start the day, leaving Edward the Peacemaker behind in Tiverton!

Back on the towpath to finish the walk to Tiverton canal basin and in slightly better weather too!

Plenty more families spotted on the water…..

Then on a more serious note passed this memorial to two officers killed when a Canberra Bomber crashed here in 1961.

This would be an original gift for a loved one a trip in a horse drawn canal boat.

I walked to the canal basin and through Tiverton taking a photo of this impressive clock tower on the way.

Then it was back out into the countryside …….

There were some really tough Devon hills today and one particular mile which included a very steep decline on a rocky lane, immediately followed by a punishing climb up a narrow road, I dubbed as the toughest mile of the whole walk so far!

So all those people who have been telling me since I left John O’Groats “it is all downhill from here” have been lying! Devon has some champion hills…..don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

Still I survived and kept on walking ……….

Not everything you see whilst out walking is ‘real’……..

Think it is time I called it a day! I am being picked up at Black Dog, no not the pub, the hamlet!

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Day 47 Sunday 2nd June

This morning my start was from where the van was parked overnight.

There are so many different sights to enjoy on route, many of which trigger a chain of memories……

Others just raise the question ….why?

Some just make you appreciate the beauty of nature!

The weather forecast wasn’t good so I had started early to get some miles in before the rain started!

As I got to Wellington a street fair had been set up with many hours of fun and feasting promised.

I stopped for a coffee in Wetherspoons and by the time I came out it was raining!

What a disappointment for the people of Wellington after all the dry weather we have enjoyed this year.

I had to press on as I have a walk to do!

After the downpour the weather became dull and drizzly but I did enjoy my walk along the Grand Western Canal.

Fantastic time of year to see the many new families of ducks and swans.

I was picked up from Sampford Peverell and we spent the night in Tiverton. I feel my luck with the weather is running out…..

Expect more pictures of a dripping me!

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Day 46 Saturday 1st June

After a good breakfast my walk started from The Mercure, Bridgwater. I walked out of town and picked up a ‘follower’ on the way !

I walked through a residential area and then out into the countryside.

As I passed through hamlets and small villages I was struck with the similarities to Dorset, where I grew up. Small, clear streams running alongside the grass verge.

After spending almost 40 years in Cornwall where they have Cornish hedges which are dry stone walls covered with vegetation and next to the road with no verge at all this took me on a trip down memory lane!

Then I found some lanes similar to the ones in Cornwall!

My enemy at the moment are these…..

Stinging nettles that grow out of the hedge to sting you!

I then had a very pleasant walk along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and saw plenty ducks and ducklings!

This swan was on the nest at the far side of the canal.

I have now walked over 700 miles! It is the last day of the month and I calculated my steps for the May.

We spent the night in Taunton Tesco and as I walked there it means I can start early and from the Vanir the morning.

The weather is changing and I am going to be planning my walking hours around the rain!

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Day 45 Friday 31st May

The pick up point last night and start this morning was in a country lane Near East Brent.

In the hedge where I was picked up was this

These are Eastern tent caterpillars which turn into moths. Apparently they build this structure then all sleep in it at night.

The weather was a little dull and the day involved quite a bit of walking on a pavement alongside a main road.

However no matter where you are walking there are always things to see and people to meet.

There was a demonstration on the central reservation but I have to be honest and say I don’t know what it was all about!

Any ideas! Free Roland Rat? Maybe not!

Further on I met an End to Ender going the other way and we stopped for a chat.

He was Rick Scott and he had walked 230miles from Land’s End. Good luck Rick with the rest of your walk.

I was heading for the Mercure Bridgwater. An excellent 4 * hotel.

I was warmly welcomed by the Manager and his staff and given a complimentary stay.

Thank you so much, it means a lot at the end of a day walking

When I got to my room this is what I found…….

The evening meal was great and the staff so friendly. Thank you to everyone at the Mercure!

Spotted this statue in Bridgwater

A comfy bed tonight!

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Day 44 Thursday 30th May

Better weather this morning and I am looking forward to walking with Ali later and having a catch up.

My walk was down country lanes at first and then some footpaths. This one went straight across a field of crops!

You can see how dry the ground is and we really have had very little rain in the 6 weeks or so that I have been walking.

The footpath continued across 3 or 4 cow fields, and again I was glad of the dry ground, and very glad that all the cows were in the farmyard as I passed!

It was slow going avoiding all the cow pats and trying to avoid twisting an ankle in the very rutted fields. The good side was that it reminded me of my childhood in the countryside.

Back on the road I passed this lovely display of wisteria. I do love this time of year.

On I went through small villages and this is Holy Trinity Church in Cleeve.

Ali joined me at Congresbury and we walked the Strawberry Line through Thatchers orchards to Sandford. Good easy walk and fun to share it after so many days of walking alone.

A weasel ran across the path in front of us, unfortunately he wouldn’t stop for a photo shoot!

But we did!

Thatchers are a family run cider company who own all the land around and have massive production premises there. We stopped at The Railway Inn which is also owned by them and serves more ciders than I knew existed.

We had an excellent light lunch and liquid refreshment and it was there that I met a cider infused ‘Thatchers boy’, Don, who generously donated to Alzheimer’s Society. Thank you Don. If you would like to meet him, apparently he is there every morning enjoying 4 or 5 pints of Thatchers then he goes home for a break and is back again in the evening! He must have got a loyalty card for working at Thatchers!!

We bade farewell to Ali and Richard and I set off for the rest of the walk.

It was a perfect day for walking and the deserted lanes and tracks were stunning!

An excellent day in a lovely area and no……. it wasn’t due to the lunchtime refreshment!!

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Day 43 Wednesday 29th May

Today was a drizzly day with showers so not so many photos today.

My start point was on the England side of the Severn Bridge.

A great mixture of scenery today starting with a walk alongside the Severn with views of the bridges.

I also walked around industrial sites and passed thousands of new cars parked up in huge compounds. Many of you will have seen these as you passed by on the M5. Made me sad that we live in such a material world.

I got up and close to a wind turbine!

Also saw a large variety of wild flowers, all the hedgerows and verges are in full bloom now.

I faced hold ups when the cycleway I was following was closed without a sign warning of the closure but rather than do a diversion of several miles I opted to walk on a verge

for the 360 metres through the traffic light controlled section.

Also had a few green lanes including one called Stony Steep and it was both!

Another part of the route was to cross the Avonmouth bridge and by now it was wet and windy.

After coming off the bridge the path I was meant to take was closed off by six foot fences and I had to sort out a substitute route which was considerably longer.

As I said a very mixed day with loads of variety and some testing moments particularly as the weather was not so good …….. but we all need challenges!

I still achieved a good mileage and was pleased to reach Nailsea.

A very special evening as Ali (a friend from college in the 70’s) & Richard joined us for a meal at Wetherspoons.

On the way there I spotted this tribute to a West Country legend.

That made me smile and we had a lovely evening.

We made arrangements for Ali to join me for a few miles tomorrow.

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