25 March 2013 29km. Started 08:00. Arrived 15:30.
The weather was VERY cold – hat and gloves on nearly all day, and I rarely wear either of these in UK. I had the path more or less to myself and enjoyed the quiet tranquillity of Bucks Mills where I have previously sat on the slipway and watched the waves rolling onto the beach. It was much too cold to do that this time!
I deviated from the coast path to walk from Westward Ho! (of Charles Kingsley fame of course) and over Kipling Tor (Stalky & Co is based on Rudyard Kipling’s schooldays here where he used to go to smoke cigars and pipes and talk with his friends). I have never smoked (not even tried it) and so had no thought of emulating their behaviour. This turn-off the main path gave me a more direct route to Bideford and, having already walked the entire South West Coast Path, I did not need to stick slavishly to its full route.
The centre of Bideford seemed even more cold than the path. I managed to purchase stamps and post a book home, while also getting the needed rubber stamp on my record sheet. I bought a shoe brush from a shop where the assistant appeared to be horrified at the state of my boots (still sixty-four more walking days to do!).
Every cafe in the place seemed to be closed or about to close and I still thought it was too early to arrive at the small hotel I had booked. However a supermarket cafe en route was a positive find. I ended up returning there for an early dinner after booking in at the hotel.
The evening was spent confirming my overnight stay at my mother’s home in Keynsham and booking onward from there. Eventually I found time to brush my boots clean (or less dirty) and reproof them. “The Times”, bought to read over afternoon coffee and cake and at dinner, proved to be multi-purpose and useful to stuff into my wet boots.
Where's Kathryn? 