The Journey Home

After spending a few days relaxing in Brixham, Paignton and Torquay we set off home only to end up 8 hours sitting on the m5 3 miles north of the Avon bridge watching kids playing football and hockey on the fast lane and people walking dogs and babies on the hard shoulder, because some idiot decided to spoil our day by trying to jump off after 3 months on the road with very few problems it was a shame to end up in this ............ but wouldn't have missed any of it. So it goes.......
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The End Post

At last as i walked into lands about 4.20 and 66 days on the 25th August a voice over the tanoy welcomed me in and people applauded it was a real nice feeling. A great sense of acheivement and at last it was done.


It is so different to John O Groat very touristy with little amusements and coffee shops. Attractions and lots of people. At the post a picture and another spontanious round of applause

The End 25th August 2009

The Start 1st June 2009




A glass of champagne to celebrate and to raise a toast to all the people who have raised money for cancer research a big thankyou to all the campsites and superstores for the donations.

And a special thankyou to sherpa dennisterlee could not have done it without you xxx.

This has been a summer to remember a wonderful adventure. Time now to reflect and decide on the next big adventure.

Cheers

Halsetown - LANDS END August 24th Day 64

The day has arrived today i will arrive in lands end its 16 miles away and i can taste it. A nice walk in sunshine through Zennor, Pendeen Sands and St Just. I finally had a cornish past in St Just very nice it was.

A sight to behold. 64 days over 1100 miles really not sure how i feel at the moment just want to get there and touch the post.

Walking the last bit down past the airport i could see the end of the coast.

It was nice to finish this with sunshine. A real sense of acheivment.

Portreath - Halsetown August 24 Day 63

Back on the road and right decision to get off the SWC path. With sea on my right all the way i headed for Hayle and then onto St Ives a very hilly busy place.

But only one day to lands end. Staying at a nice little campsite for free again very busy.

Perranparth - Portreath August 22 Day 62

This is a beautifull coast line and the path is a nice walk although sometimes hard work. With sea breeze i plodded on to Portreath. The last part of the cliff path had been closed due to coastal erosion. So a little walk on a lane. To a campsite called Cambrose and a day off tomorrow. Thankyou very much for free camping and a very nice campsite it was. I think i'm going to get off this coast path it is such slow going and the end post is in sight. And barring accidents i can be there in two days by road.

St Columbus Major - Perranporth August 21st Day 61

With Newquey just 7 miles down the road off i went into tourism hell. Pass the airport. There was a spitfire in a garden and various other bits of aircrafts in others. Arriving in Newquey was a shock to the system people everywhere wondering aimlessly round shops full of tatt. Surf boards and beach bums everywhere. What a place. One redeeming feature was a pub called Leadbellies. Here i was going to join the Southwest Coastal Path for my final walk into lands end. but first i had to get to perranporth. This path although beautifull scenery can be testy at times. It was so nice to see the sea after so long. It was a long old slog to the campsite in and out and up and down.

Cardinham - St Columbus Major August 20th Day 60

By passing Bodmin on the lanes down through Victoria walking into the wind all day. Walking on the old A30 with new one just to my left. That was busy busy. A long straight road with very little to look at. The camp for the evening was called Trekening just by St Columbus Major. It was very busy full of kids and noise. The saving grace was it had Baths wow lovely a nice soak. Well worth the £1 in the water meter.

Minions - Cardinham August 19th Day 59

Waterproof day to day it was very misty and damp. Walking across the top of the moors across Browngelly Downs and through St Neot down to Cardinham Woods to a campsite that was awful. It had one toilet no basin and the showers, well the solar bags hung up in the barn left a lot be disired and they charged £10 wont be going back there. It was wet night on the side of a hill and in the morning the fog so thick you could not see the woods across the field.

The view from the tent in the evening

Tin Hay - Minions August 18th Day 58

From Tin Hay i left the camp and just up the road was the sign i wanted to see.Yippee the last County Cornwall. After 58 days the home stretch was in front of me. On the B3254 a nice walking day weather wise walking on the edge of Bodmin Moor with the wild horses and open area very nice. Looks like 66-1 shot one joe would back.

The open moors a lovely with the Hurlers Stone Circle in view and lots of chimney type building dotted about these i think are something to do with tin mining. The Evening camp was behind yet another pub a 16th century inn. Who let people camp behind it and we were not alone as there was a community of travellers living there. In the evening over a pint i met a fellow Steve who had made his living mainly picking. He told me about his last job which was picking nettle leaves that were used to cover cheese. Amazing £11 a kilo he said after a while he could not feel the ends of his fingers what a charactor. And a woman who called herself a Prayer Mother called Megarry who offered to do any washing we had and donated £5.00 thankyou. And a thankyou to nobby the landlord who let us camp for free.

Oakhampton - Tin Hay August 17th Day 57

On the lanes again through Bridestowe a nice little town with the river West Okement running through. A long walk to the camp mainly up hill. A nice little site thanks for the Donation. There were a couple of little camper with fella's in who had been working in the area.