Pentewan to Par – The Last Sacrament (Third Blog Today)

We’ve had several sacraments on these three days. Cleansing of the soul through hard physical exertion. An outpouring of Holy Spirit – cyder. Anointing of the Sick – or at least applying plasters and medication in required areas. Eucharist – we had a bit of bread but certainly some wine.

And now, the end is near. Thanks Frank. But a fair way to go today. Probably the longest walk. And tonight the last supper for Colin and Lyons will be cooked by my sister, Deborah. Hooray!

We, Colin and me, had a crappy nighty sleepy. There was a party 20 yards up the campsite from our tents and it was noisy, lengthy and totally inconsiderate. Until 2.30am. We were camped in a coppice, and the rooks started to scream before 4am. ST ANTHONY!!!!!!!!

We got up at 7am and walked past the place of the party people, who had left their bottles, food and detritus lying around. I called out to them the name of St Anthony, who had resisted greater temptations than them in the Egyptian desert. Without making a racket. Not even Brahms third racket.

Lyons’ B&B let me and Colin in for breakfast. And it was great. Then we were off.

And as you can see from the photo below: the coastal path follows the coast; the coast falls and rises. That means, we’re in for more pain. Hooray!

However. Which is a great word, and even better in a Northern Irish accent. Highever. Neat. However, Lyons was able to leave her ruckie and I was able to leave mine at her B&B for my sister Deborah to collect later this morning.

I’m beginning to feel the strain and may have struggled to make it to Par with my ruckie. These were mega drops and climbs. In very warm and still weather. Sweat city Arizona.

Colin chose to carry his rucksack. I salute you.

It was slow, hard work but we ground on and on. Lyons even managed a smile. Sat down, rehydrating, in the sun with beautiful views. What’s not to smile about?

This is hard but well worth it. You really feel, at the end of the day, that you’ve achieved something. And you have. It’s a fabulous experience. But so is playing air guitar. Strum it Colin!

There were the occasional woodland glades that provided shade from the hot sun.

But the coast was always there to remind us that this is a coastal path.

We arrived at Charlestown, and enjoyed a long cold drink on the quayside.

We were umming and arring as to whether to finish here, as we had more than fulfilled Colin and Lyons’ challenge. But they couldn’t let it go. They had to make it to Par, the finish line.

And we ended up together at the Par Inn. If you can’t make it out, the blue writing on the bottom of the number 16 shirt in the frame reads “Prostate Cancer UK”. What a coincidence.

Deborah picked us up, took us to her tent, fed us on fabulous Iberian scran and we drank nice wine. Lyons got a taxi back to some decent digs and we carried on drinking wine until sleep overtook us.

A great night.

Night night.