26 March 2013: 37km. Started 08:00. Arrived 16:15.
Given that everybody else staying in the hotel was a workman, breakfast was available from 07:00. This allowed me to leave at 08:00. I just avoided taking my room key with me; one of my water bottles crashed on the ground within metres of starting to walk, but fortunately survived with just another dent. Not an auspicious start and I knew that I had a very long and flat trek along the old railway line route all the way to Barnstaple. I am sorry to say that I find this a tedious path to walk along as there is only a slowly changing view – much better to cycle or run. I was determined to walk at a consistent fast pace and was delighted when I arrived at Fremington where the cafe was open. I definitely felt that I had earned my fifteen minute break in the warm cafe, out of the bitter east wind and enjoyed my coffee whilst relaxing in an arm chair.
At Barnstaple, I left the South West Coast Path for the final time on this walk. My route ran through a park where I met and walked for half a mile or so with a retired lady out to complete her 10,000 daily steps. She had worked in a civilian role at a local military camp and told me about the active army people who set out to walk twenty miles a day on the coast path and struggled. It certainly does have a reputation as a hard walk!
I wasn’t on any major marked trail, but I had no problems finding the paths marked on the map. The fact that two people I passed commented on the low temperature (one of these was a farmer) confirmed my assertions about it being cold. It was the fourth consecutive dry day though.
My destination was a very luxurious B&B in a farmhouse opposite West Buckland School (triple jumper Jonathan Edwards went there). I was welcomed with a homemade Devon Cream Tea (but with coffee at my request) and accepted the generous offer of a home cooked evening meal rather than a lift to the pub, three miles away.
This farm house is clearly on the route as they had previously six known end to end completers staying there (completion postcards shown to me). I promised to send my hosts a card when / if I got to the other end.
Where's Kathryn? 