7 miles walked today
1063 miles walked in total (10.524 average)
What a brilliant day! A great start to my fortnight in Cornwall. I'd been slightly dreading it as my guide book said I had a "strenuous" seven miles to Fowey and that "we advise anyone unaccustomed to coastal walking that this is one of the toughest sections". Bring it on!
Dad was directing me to Polperro so we went the mega scenic route and didn't arrive until about ten thirty! After sorting my feet/ boots out, we wandered down to the harbour and I started walking properly at just before eleven, after arranging to meet at the ferry in Fowey at two thirty.
All the spring flowers are in full bloom - daffodils, magnolias, camellias - together with rhododendrons and even roses. So I knew I was in for a treat and all day I've seen primroses and violets. The gorse, as ever, has been in flower too so the smell of coconut has been strong in the air.
It was very sunny although I had the odd spot of rain (or maybe sea spray?) although never enough to put my coat on. It's obviously been quite wet down here as the path was quite muddy in places. I only fell over once though which was a bonus! (Good job I brought my Radox with me for a soak later!)
The hills today were hard - Chapel Cliff, Hard Head, Lansallos, Raphael Cliff. There were lots of people about - on the beaches at Lantivet Bay and Lantic Bay and lots of small children being dragged along the paths by over enthusiastic parents to get to the beaches. There were a lot more people out and about the nearer I got to Polruan and I spoke to one lady who said the path from Fowey to Par (my intended destination) would take a couple of hours. However, that would take me until five and it was getting quite cold and I was worried I'd lose the sun. I rounded Blackbottle Rock to walk on a lovely grassy track into Polruan and followed the coast path acorn sign down to the ferry point.
The ferry ride was very exciting as it was quite choppy!
Fowey looked beautiful and a place you could easily spend hours mooching around and exploring. As I got up to get out of the ferry, a wave came over the top of the boat and got me! Mum and Dad on the quayside thought this was quite entertaining.
We had a cup of tea and I had a sandwich while I tried to make up my mind whether to carry on to Par. I would dearly have loved to carry on, but my sensible head took over and I called it a day. I've really enjoyed today and the last six miles could have spoiled the whole day for me if I'd had a bad time.
Still, seven miles isn't bad after six months of complete inactivity!