Day 6 - Hartland

Total: 109+m / Daily: 6m  / Overcast, Patchy Sun / Attempted Day Off

Waking up with the sunrise, I thought it was going to be another hot day but fortunately the sun was obscured for most of the day which meant the breeze was pleasantly cooling. Arriving at Hartland Quay at about 9, the hotel was just beginning to wake and an employee was turning back over the benches and setting up for the day. I enquired about getting a lift into town and he offered a free coffee whilst he asked if any of the staff were heading up.

Outside, I met my first set of people who are walking the entire coast. 'Coaster Coast' are a three man crew walking the length for Kidney Research UK and St. Margarets Hospice (www.facebook.com/ coaster_coast_9). They set off a couple of days before I did and alternate with two walking and one on luggage transfer for the day. They have sponsorship from a brewery and as a consequence, have every night accomodation and various drinks/meals paid for ... I missed a trick there. Do you think Manx2 (a local airline) would sponsor me?

I spent a few hours in Hartland village after waiting all of three minutes for a lift on the quayside. The local church, St. Nectans run a tea room in the village and I had two cups of tea and cake for £3.50. Not only did it have WiFi, but the change from the £5 note which I said to put in the church collection was handed back as a donation towards my fundraising, thank you St. Nectans.

My options to get to the YHA were all fairly unsatisfactory, lack of buses/taxis coupled with the fact that everywhere useful (the coast, the village and the hostel) were all 3+ miles apart meant that I was going to have to walk on my 'knee resting day'. A local man, dropped me two miles back towards the coast and I wandered on, keeping an eye on the signs so as not to miss the turning towards the hostel. I found a lovely spot at Speke's Mill Mouth, where the track left the path at a secluded grassy cove. I pitched the inner skin of my tent, made a coffee and proceeded to nap for 2 hours. A food bag makes a surprisingly good pillow slipped inside a neck buff. I met Justin and he kindly took a photo of me enjoying my day off (photos will follow when I have a solid connection). Just as they were leaving, his daughter ran up with a donation, thank you Justin, Daisy and family for your support. (Emma, we need those cards!)

Elmscott YHA provided a welcome rest and the opportunity to wash clothes. It feels good to be clean, if only for a few more hours! The forecast is for thunderstorms over the next few days, I hope I don't melt in the rain...

Day 1 - Minehead, Porlock

~ 17 miles / Sunny
Quite an eventful day, all things considered. After having another chat with Andrew at the YHA about the SWCP and specifically my options for today, I felt well prepared. Three hours later, I had completed the first day according to the 8 week guide book. Arriving at lunch time in Porlock allowed me to hide from the midday sun in The Ship Inn, eating prawn cocktail and drinking amber ales. Doesn't exactly sound like the hard life yet. The end of the day and the following day changes that!

I bumped into two ladies at England's smallest church, so I was informed, in a tiny settlement called Culbone. I sat in the church for a couple of minutes, and although I'm not a particularly religious person, there was a real sense of calm and tranquility inside. Light filtering in through the little windows and the distant sound of water in the stream added to the effect. Annie and .... (is it Jean? Sorry, my phone crashed after I wrote this post the first time ) took an interest in my story and I've decide I need business cards with  my blog/JustGiving details on so that I don't have a repeat of the embarrassing moment when a teabag is the only thing I have to write on. Teabag signed, I headed off wondering why my complaining knee hadn't gone away unlike the ankle and hips, which briefly had a tantrum and then got on with the job in hand.

The niggling pain in my left knee was getting worse on downhill sections. After stopping for supper in a combe with a stream, my knee tightened up and the final few miles of the day were pretty painful. Hopefully a good night sleep would sort it. Despite the perfect location, flat grassy area sheltered by bushes, clear skies, sleeping with the fly off under the stars, my knee began to complain pretty soon into the new day.