Walk Back in Time

Breakfast yesterday at Pentewan Sands Beach Park and then off on the path. Somebody keeps adding weight to this rucksack. If I catch the beggar he’ll be jolly well sorry. A shorter walk yesterday of 8 miles, round to Par via Charlestown. Still up and down but shorter. Charlestown is a delightful little port, one of the few in the Southwest with lock gates. A couple of nice little sailing ships in dock as well. And I stopped for a pot of tea that gave me three full cups for £1.30. Bargain or what?

The dove of peace rests In Charlestown.

Walking on I passed the Carlyon Bay Hotel and its beautiful golf course running along the sea front and looking over to Gribbin Head, jutting out like Jimmy Hill’s chin between Polkerris and Fowey.

In the late 70s and early 80s I worked for the English China Clay company when I was based in Bristol. Being down around St Austell, Par and Fowey takes me back to those days. Exciting days of youthful enthusiasm and exploration. Swaggering up to London for National meetings like the Pirates of Penzance and being taught by my maverick Chairman to treat pomp and circumstance with the derision it deserves. Losing touch with the cutting edge of music but learning what business was about and keeping customers satisfied.

Camping last night between Par and Fowey I cut back down to the coast this morning round Polkerris and beyond Gribbin Head. Looking out was beautiful again;

as was looking back to Gribbin.

Coming round the corner and looking into Fowey harbour with Fowey on the left and Polruan on the right is a great sight. In the 1400s Fowey was full of pirates. They really pissed off the French, who went in to sort out the Fowey folk in 1457. Undeterred the pirates reformed and in 1469 captured 12 ships off Brittany in a fortnight. The King had just signed a peace agreement with France so he sent down an Emissary to Fowey to ask them to stop. The bloke was sent back to London after the pirates cut off one of his ears.It could have been worse.

Back to present day, thanks to the Galleon Inn in Fowey for spotting my Help for Heroes shirt and not charging me much for lunch. Thank you. Ear and chips was great.
Looking off the ferry to Polruan out to sea. What weather – again!! The Ferryman didn’t take any fee as I have my H4H shirt on.

I’ve pitched up at the top of Polruan for the night. This is the view down to Fowey.

Andrew told me about Robin Williams. I’d heard he was dead but I didn’t know it was suicide or the nature of it. Poor, tortured man. I have fallen into depression several times over my life, from a very young age where I was frightened of infinity, up to the most recent dip 5 years ago. Luckily I’ve got it controlled with decent prescription drugs. I was running out and my surgery just faxed down the prescription to Boots in Fowey for me to get a refill. I remember my old HR Director at YTV describing me to someone as a ‘grey man’. You lose your colour and vivacity and you don’t want to sing. Too young Robin, 63 is too young. I’m sorry it took you. I’m sorry death took you too, another Robin, not even 30. Many years ago. He still cameos in our kitchen and living room on rare occasions. You are always welcome my dear and mostly departed friend. Hang around as long as you like, my house is your old haunt.

377 miles done.
253 miles to go.
75,000 feet climbed.
39,000 feet to go.

I’m sorry my dear readers and supporters. I’m getting a bit reflective and it’s not amusing.
It was cold last night. I didn’t put on my long johns and kept waking up. You can’t be bothered to get out of the sleeping bag for two minutes to put it right. Just hide and hope it warms up. I’ll sleep well tonight. My shoulder hurt as well so I need some padding tonight and on the rucksack.

Do I look nice?

From being desk bound and car bound to being in a walking state for hours on end was a bit of a transition, although the holiday in France and Spain helped adjust. It now feels like my ‘normal’ condition is to put one foot after the other with 14 kgs on my back. I’m feeling reasonably fit. The hills are a killer. I rest forward on my walking poles whilst my heart pumps like a manic Mickey Mouse powered by Duracell. But walking is my normal state now.

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
26. Porthleven
27. Lizard Point
28. Coverack
29. Helford
30. Falmouth
31. Portloe
32. Pentewan
33. Par
34. Polruan

Night night.