SWCPDay 49 – 14 Oct 2018

Port Isaac – Padstow

Attentive readers might have noticed that I just skipped two days.

On the 12th, I walked some of Plymouth’s harbour side (part of the swcp), but it was so crazy windy that not even the ferries were running, and the lurgy pretty much had me in its clutches, so I retreates indoors after about an hour. Here are some pics:

On the 13th, I returned by train, bus, foot, and donkey to the north coast of Cornwall to walk the stretch from Port Isaac. It took most of the day and I was exhausted at the other end. A quick explore around town was had…

…before a deliciously warm soup and medicinal wine for dinner, and a marvellous wallow in my b&b’s roll-top bath.

So, now I can tell you about this day, the 14th. A very soggy night and threatening skies had me gearing up in waterproof trousers and jacket, and swaddling The Beast for drizzle…

…but it turned out to be unnecessary as the clouds started to lighten and clear as soon as I stepped out on the path. Yeah!

The first section between Port Isaac and gorgeous Port Quin is considetred to be the toughest. I spent the first hour or so leapfrogging a group of five guys…

…till the Berocca in my system ran out and I started to flag. What followed was a fair bit of downing and upping, but in such stunning scenery I will forgive just about anything.

I only fell down a few stairs – I blame the slippery mud – bruising my ego and right knee in one fell swoop.

I sat on the third to bottom step doing an oddd kind of giggle/groan combination, running through an anatomy check for damage. For a few seconds I thought I might need to use my emergency whistle, but, thankfully, there was no real need.

Shake it off, Penloper!

Past Port Quin the path smooths out a bit. The ridges become rolling hills…

…with the occasional climb to take in some amazing views.

Here I am on top of The Rumps.

Rounding Pentire Point kind of felt like returning to civilization. On such a gorgeous Dunday, there were oodles of people out and about…

…taking advantage of the unseasonal warmth and sunshine. Hard to believe this is October!

From the estuary at Polzeath, it’s still a fair walk up river to Rock. With the tide well out, I could easily skirt around this enormous mound (tamuli)…

…and watch for the ferry crossing to Padstow.

There were buses from Padstow to Plymouth, but the last one would leave just after 5 pm – so time was critical. I wouldn’t say I was worried, as such, but I definitely didn’t dally because I wasn’t sure where the ferry would land at such low tide.