Early morning walk along the coast

With my walk along the West Highland Way only a week away I thought I had better go out for a 10 mile  training walk along the coast to keep my fitness levels up. Some days things don't work out as you quite expect them to and I had difficulty motivating myself, along with  sore feet at the end of the day. I have come to realise that "bad" days are part of the long distance walkers life but are equally matched by special days where walking seems effortless. On reaching the wood above Branscombe I heard the Rooks  calling to each other from their Rookeries high above my head. Early in the morning, at this time of the year the birdsong is wonderful. A small Wren was defending his territory with beautiful song and the smell of wild garlic wafted through the woodland. May is my favourite month and the trees are just beginning to show a lush greeness and the Bluebells are also  at their best. As I  descended through the woods at Salcombe hill the scent from the Bluebells was wonderful and  smells very similar to Hyacinths . At the end of my journey at Sidmouth I had  a ice cream before I caught the bus back home. A mixed day but valuable experience for what lays ahead over the next few weeks.