Just over a week to go

On Wednesday 7th may I travel up to Worcester to set out on the Big Walk again. I am always filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness just before I go. The excitement comes from the challenge and the discovery of new places along with the time I get to reflect on what's important. In contrast to this comes the fearful thoughts on how my feet will cope with the daily mileage and if when I arrive at the B and B they are expecting me! I learn in short to trust God more and me less.
I have been out doing my final long distance training this week which was 20.25 miles and involved 3750 feet of climbing in the Devon hills.
The countryside has turned notably  greener this week and the Bluebells are at their best. On my walk this week I saw several Jays and lots of Buzzards, Yellow Hammers and Skylarks. I also saw several large fields of Cuckoo flower of 4 or 5 acres in size. My route home takes me through Holyford woods which was once a site of gunpowder production. Climbing the hill out of the woods you the get a wonderful view over the Axe estuary before the easy downhill path to home. My feet held up fine so there are many " reasons to be cheerful".

A sunny day by a clear blue sea

With only about three weeks to go before I set out from Worcester on the next leg of my walk I strode out along the coastal path from Branscombe. The sun felt warm and the sea was calm and very clear.
I walked along the pebble beach and crossed a stream where it enters into the sea.. This called for a spot of long jumping in order to reach the other side and I continued my journey amongst the driftwood and debris that  had been left behind in the recent storms. On a day so calm it seemed hard to imagine that the sea had been anything but tranquil . After climbing to the top of the cliffs via the Hooken I crossed the caravan site  and headed towards the old cottages at the top of the cliffs. Crawling  on the grass in front of me was a Adder who was attracted by the warm sunshine and looking for his lunch. He crawled off  and I headed down the hill to "Great Seaside" where an Orange Tip butterfly had recently emerged and flew past me. I eventually reached my return point and headed for lunch at the Fountain  Head. The perfect end to a glorious mornings walk.