Morthoe to Croyde
A short day’s walk. Thank goodness. Given that I’d had very little sleep.
I didn’t walk to Morte Point, as planned, just followed the road through Morthoe to Grunta Beach and on to Woolacombe. As it was a public holiday (Good Friday), hundreds of people were out enjoying the beach. A fair few kite surfers were enjoying the stiff breeze, but few others were in the water. Just in case, though, the fabulously attired surf life-savers were out in force (yellow wellies anyone?).
Luckily the tide was out, so I trundled down to the hard sand and meandered along Woolacombe Sand, south to Putsborourgh Sand, and up over Napps Cliff to Putsborough. I thanked my lucky stars that Combas Farm – where I’d booked to camp – was tucked in a valley behind an imposing headland, so it was relatively protected from the North Atlantic wind, if not the cold of the night. I was settled into the camping field by noon, and set about doing laundry in the excellent, but small, facilities. Sally, who ran the camping side of the farm, was very easy-going – letting me use the better side of the drying frame where the heater could do its thing.
I went into Croyde for a look around, but had so little energy that it was a bit of a waste of time. An over-priced dinner of fish and mash at the Manor Inn took up the last of my reserves and I headed back to the camp ground to relax, giggle over the new lambs’ antics and do a little path/life admin.
Not a very productive day, and I didn’t see much, but I guess I needed a break from the intensity of hiking.
Another uncomfortably cold sleep, with a twist – skin hot to the touch, but cold to the core, itching that was only resolved when I took an antihistamine in the early hours of the morning. Turns out I’m reactive/allergic to my sleeping bag. (A surprisingly happy realization to make as it means I’m not allergic to Iceland where I had a reaction the last time I used the same bag – woohoo!!)
[Surge stats: 14.44 km, 36 floors, 21920 steps]
PenLoper 