D30. Sat 18 Jun. 511 miles. Exeter.
It must have been 00:30 before bed time, and I was tapping away on some other item as Jules woke. Tea on, get dressed, and to breakfast. I was in for an easy time today I thought.
One, because Jules’s wife Jean could not hassle me as her husband had NOT had to sleep on the floor of a £80 room, and two, as I had long since promised myself that this stretch of the Path would be steam driven.
Post cards were the order of the day, and I zapped a few out with first class stamps, jumped on another ferry with my combined ticket and sat in a comfy Mk1 carriage as the heavens opened. The steam railway trip was nice, over far too quickly, and as I arrived in Paignton, Patrick had arrived from London he was doing his post cards. I came out in favour – and did some more.
We were a bit late setting off, but we got going and chatted about this and that, London life, and my previous visits to see a bloke called Keith who had also served in the Royal Signals.
Torquay went on, and on and on! So I won’t here – but have a read of Patrick’s account, complete with photos.
Before I close this days recollections down, I will mention that, although it rained again, from a late start there was good walking progress and by 22:21, I had arrived on the side of the River Exe at Starcross having completed around 23 miles that day.
The significance here was that Patrick and I were about to start my Home Leg, the Jurassic Coast.
SWCP:Day 30
