Day 10 - Trevone, Harlyn, Porthcothan

Total: 180+m / Daily: 13m  / Sunny /

As I wandered to find a spot to camp last night I came across more little frogs, see if you can spot one in the photo (it's right in the centre).

No need for sleeping mat last night, the grass I pitched on was very long and it came a good cushion. Whilst doing minor foot surgery (I'll spare the details) I noticed that my feet were looking rather red, not just rubbed areas, but the whole bottom and sides of both feet. I have a photo which doesn't really do the redness justice, but it gives an idea. I went to sleep with my feet feeling like they were on fire.

This morning was similar although walking in boots again was slightly less painful. Crocs and a backpack is a terrible idea! My new plan for today is 13m which will use up the lead I had gained.

Many thanks to Katrina who donated by both edible and financial means! I searched for the cafe where her colleagues worked but only found the YHA at Treyarnon Bay where I rested my still burning feet for 3 hours.

I bumped into the Coaster_Coast team at the beginning of the day who are putting in a couple of big days to see them to Portreath on Saturday. They plan on finishing before I do, future visits will be brief I expect and only if I push ahead.

*Puppy photo because we are thinking of getting one (I didn't actually see one)

Day 2 - Lynton, Combe Martin

~18 miles / Sunny / 5 Deer

Knee sore within 3 minutes, I decided to alter the 18 mile a day plan to allow me to get used to carrying a heavy rucksack again.

I had a coffee in Lynton and thought about various options, talking them through with the waitress at the one cafe in town open at 9am. Physio means going to Barnstaple to try and get an appointment with someone who will most likely tell me to rest and build up strength. The better option for me is to take a day (well, 12 hours) rest, see if I can find a support and plan to carry on tomorrow. Concious of time, this meant a bus to Combe Martin, but well worth it if I can shake the problem early on.

* Photo, Combe Martin

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.