It Hurt Part Two

As I was saying before I pressed the wrong button and published the last blog, the last section is beyond belief. The rock formations, the sea where the Channel meets the Atlantic and the coves are proper world heritage standard and not crappy 100 year old mine workings that make some parts of this beautiful shire look like South Yorkshire after the pit closures and before any regeneration.

Lands End is a commercial centre now but we still did the tourist photo bit, without paying.

We met Susie and Pete again at Porthgwarra on the cliff tops with Pete scanning the coast and cliffs for rarities of the sea and skies. He’s a Twitcher and loves setting up his camera and binoculars for a session in beautiful environments. What a great hobby. Susie walks on the cliffs. Great hols.

Andrew and myself were looking out to sea just before Porthgwarra and saw a huge shape about a quarter of a mile to half a mile out. We couldn’t believe it was a whale and far too big for the biggest Basking Shark. It changed shape and eventually sank back into the ocean. A dense shoal of fish, so packed it looked like a single living being. There is a shoal of Mackerel that has moved in to the south coast and come into the shallow waters hunting whitebait. It stretches from here (Porthcurno) into Devon. A vast swathe of sealife.

I’m not halfway yet. I’ve done about 260 miles. I’ll check tonight. 370 to go. Jesus.

I didn’t check but it’s now Saturday afternoon and I’ve made it to Penzance today and that gives me 270 miles done and 360 to go. Better than that, Andrew hasn’t trodden in slurry today and my dangly bits are good as gold. No problem at all.
This area is blooming awesome. It’s sunny, the sea is very calm and the haze adds to the slightly unreal and delightfully distant feel about the whole coast. A tough 12 mile walk today though, up and down and rough walking on occasions. Six Royal Marine Commando trainees ran past us on the path yesterday carrying huge sandbags on their shoulders, being managed by three trainers. Not very tall but broad shoulders like heavyweight boxers and amazingly fit – that’s me and Andrew by the way. The Squaddies were pansies.

This is looking back west at Lamorna Cove. What a view.

And now looking forward, just round the corner and walking towards Mousehole the hazy bay of Penzance with St Michael’s Mount in the left hand background.

It’s a great experience whilst the weather’s ok but let’s see what the next five weeks bring.
Night
1. Porlock
2. Lynton
3. Hunters Inn
4. Coombe Martin
5. Woollacombe
6. Braunton
7. Bideford
8. Abbotsham
9. Hartland
10. Morwenstowe
11. Bude
12. Crackington Haven
13. Tintagel
14. Port Gaverne
15. Rock
16. Harlyn
17. Trevarrian
18. Perranporth
19. Portreath
20. Hayle
21. St Ives
22. Zennor
23. Cape Cornwall
24. Porthcurno
25. Penzance

It rained a bit this morning before we broke camp. I put my foot in my trainers and the right one was wet inside. I thought it had caught some rain as Wilson doesn’t give complete cover. However on taking off my trainer and looking inside I pulled out a substantial, squashed and leaking slug. Sock soup anyone?