Total: 124+m / Daily:18m / Overcast + Sunny / 'The Arduous Day'
For 'probably the most arduous day of the itinerary' this morning didn't seem to bad. I was already 2 miles into the 15mile section at the hostel so that helped I suppose. I was able to reach Bude (apologies if it gets published as Nude, my phone kindly autocorrects it) by lunchtime and ate a full English breakfast, delicious.
The day didn't start quite so successfully. I had the worst night sleep I have had in a long time. I was sleeping in a 4 man dorm with one other gentleman but it sounded more like a race track. I tried everything I could think of but nothing could stop him snoring for longer than 30 seconds. I took a 20 audio clip from my bunk which is pretty clear (I may upload it at some point) and I even went outside at 3am to escape, but I could still hear the snoring. I didn't have more than 30 minutes uninterrupted sleep from 11:45 to 5:30 when I got up and left. The joys of staying in a hostel dorm? There should be some sort of vetting process to stop this! Funny thing is, he probably had a great sleep..
Rather than hide from the sun, I decided to sit on the beach, catching up on a couple of hours sleep whilst casually learning how to surf, listening to an instructor teach a young group. I was thinking it might be fun to try somewhere, and Stan suggested the same thing later in the day. Bude turned into Widemouth and then I returned to steep rises and falls ending up in Millook Haven. For late in the day (6ish) there was a good number of people on the beach and I asked about camping on the grass around the 6/7 houses the valley had.
A lady with three pugs suggested that I walk a little way on a track beside a stream and ask at the cottage. She kindly showed me the way and introduced me to Lucy at a charming old cottage hidden back from the road with a stream and wooden bridge in the garden. Lucy allowed me to setup in one of the fields and just as I finished setting up, two lads appeared.
Lucy's son, Stan and his friend Ravi brought me a packet of Mini Cheddars and soon took an interest in what I'm doing, I was happy to field their questions as we played with Stan's diablo. The boys were called to have supper but returned with the offer of a cup of tea and a bath!
The cottage is just as charming inside as it is outside and the family visit every holiday, including all their Christmas holidays too. As the situation was being explained, I realised it is for them, what Treetops is for me. The light fitting in the bathroom was rusted and Lucy gave me a candle, I suggest they never fix the fitting, a candle is much better! So there I was, drinking a cup of tea in a hot bath, relaxing my knee by candlelight, there is no chance I would have guessed that as the end of the day. Lucy, thank you so much for your incredible hospitality to a complete stranger and I hope you and the boys enjoy the rest of your holiday.
A late night by walking standards at 10.30, I highly doubt tomorrow will be as interesting!
For 'probably the most arduous day of the itinerary' this morning didn't seem to bad. I was already 2 miles into the 15mile section at the hostel so that helped I suppose. I was able to reach Bude (apologies if it gets published as Nude, my phone kindly autocorrects it) by lunchtime and ate a full English breakfast, delicious.
The day didn't start quite so successfully. I had the worst night sleep I have had in a long time. I was sleeping in a 4 man dorm with one other gentleman but it sounded more like a race track. I tried everything I could think of but nothing could stop him snoring for longer than 30 seconds. I took a 20 audio clip from my bunk which is pretty clear (I may upload it at some point) and I even went outside at 3am to escape, but I could still hear the snoring. I didn't have more than 30 minutes uninterrupted sleep from 11:45 to 5:30 when I got up and left. The joys of staying in a hostel dorm? There should be some sort of vetting process to stop this! Funny thing is, he probably had a great sleep..
Rather than hide from the sun, I decided to sit on the beach, catching up on a couple of hours sleep whilst casually learning how to surf, listening to an instructor teach a young group. I was thinking it might be fun to try somewhere, and Stan suggested the same thing later in the day. Bude turned into Widemouth and then I returned to steep rises and falls ending up in Millook Haven. For late in the day (6ish) there was a good number of people on the beach and I asked about camping on the grass around the 6/7 houses the valley had.
A lady with three pugs suggested that I walk a little way on a track beside a stream and ask at the cottage. She kindly showed me the way and introduced me to Lucy at a charming old cottage hidden back from the road with a stream and wooden bridge in the garden. Lucy allowed me to setup in one of the fields and just as I finished setting up, two lads appeared.
Lucy's son, Stan and his friend Ravi brought me a packet of Mini Cheddars and soon took an interest in what I'm doing, I was happy to field their questions as we played with Stan's diablo. The boys were called to have supper but returned with the offer of a cup of tea and a bath!
The cottage is just as charming inside as it is outside and the family visit every holiday, including all their Christmas holidays too. As the situation was being explained, I realised it is for them, what Treetops is for me. The light fitting in the bathroom was rusted and Lucy gave me a candle, I suggest they never fix the fitting, a candle is much better! So there I was, drinking a cup of tea in a hot bath, relaxing my knee by candlelight, there is no chance I would have guessed that as the end of the day. Lucy, thank you so much for your incredible hospitality to a complete stranger and I hope you and the boys enjoy the rest of your holiday.
A late night by walking standards at 10.30, I highly doubt tomorrow will be as interesting!
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