Day 2 Tiverton to Hillfarrence 22 miles

After a good breakfast I eventually hit the road on what would prove a long day crossing the border to Somereset. Some domestic duties had to be sorted out first as I needed a OS map to find my way across the border. After calling in W.H. Smiths I set out to find the Grand Western Canal which would be my "constant friend" for the next 12 miles. Canals are never boring as there is always something going on as every step unfolds. Ducks fighting, swans teaching their young gracefulness and Perch hanging around in weedy water waiting for someone to beat up! Although sunny, the day had a distinct Siberian feel with a strong wind that nearly blow my hat into the canal several times. The barges/houseboats looked cosy though, with breakfasts well"underway" and people stretching to welcome the morning . Eventually I reached the end of the canal and found a pub that was only open evenings and  day times on weekends. Boy was I disappointed. I sat dejected and ate some chocolate. I was not the only "wasp trapped into a jam jar of water". As I sat there chewing, a couple stared through the dark pub window and asked me "is it closed"?  I left them looking intently at their map and passed some old lime kilns as I headed out into the country lanes. Eventually by way of high rocky lanes and shady churchyards I came to the Anchor Inn at Hillfarrence. It was comfortable and homely, an oasis after a long day on the road.

Day 1 Crediton to Tiverton 15 miles

I was feeling a bit nervous as Alison drove with me on a cloudy  grey morning to Crediton. The "short cut" across country to avoid traffic proved to be quite hair raising with bumpy hills and narrow roads with grass growing down the middle of them. Eventually we arrived at the sports centre and I waved Alison goodbye in the rain and headed across the water meadows. I then made my and  through a series of villages before joining the river Exe and ending up for the night in Tiverton. The first village I came to had the best bus shelter I have ever seen. Talk about comfort. It had cushions flowers a notice board and all mod cons.The weather brightened up about 1pm and I headed towards Bickleigh castle. In Bickleigh I stopped in a bus shelter ate a milky way and checked my feet out. It was time to put some Vaseline on them and stop the friction of rubbing socks before any blisters appeared. Feet greased I headed over the hills to Tiverton and headed down into the town and found my Bed and breakfast. Along soak in a bubbly bath fixed my feet and day one was done. What's more the sun had come out! Things could only get better I was off to the pub!.

my last training day

As I sat inside today it was more like a scene from Hound of the Baskervilles . The sea mist had blown in and on top of this it had rained most of the day. I thought to myself, I hope it is not like this next week as I set out on my 100 mile journey from Crediton to Bath. I seem to have a knack of setting out on a journey on a wet day. Last  year in June there had been weeks of dry weather till the day I actually got on my bike and the heavens opened. Tomorrow sees my last actual training walk before the real thing on Monday. The weather is set fair so  I am looking forward to having  some "thinking" time about the week ahead before meeting Alison for lunch ( and a lift home from The Blue Ball at Sidford). If my feet hold up next week everything should be fine and just think of the new places I am going to see. Its very  exciting  to be on the road again.

My part-time job as a shepherd

Only 10 days to go before I set out from Crediton to Bath. Today started dull and gloomy as I set out for my training walk to Sidmouth. You know you are getting old when 5 minutes into the walk you wonder if you remembered to close the garage door and have to walk a quarter of a mile back home just in case you hadn't. I had of course closed it. Never mind I was off on the road again and because of my delay caught up with a friend of mine who was walking his dog. Had I not gone back I would have missed him! As I got to Branscombe  the woods were full of wild garlic and bluebells it was wonderful! On leaving Branscombe I found a sheep in the road apparently lost. Traffic was coming in both directions up the narrow road and I had to stop cars and direct them round him. This went on for about a quarter of a mile until I managed to chase him round a bungalow and into a field. I then got somebody to call the farmer and I headed of to Sidmouth! On the final stretch to Sidmouth along the coastal path I met a walker who was doing the south coast path and on Sunday had walked 23 miles in the rain. Poor him I thought, but as he had also cycled right the way across Australia from Perth to Sydney this must have seemed easy. A large ice cream in Sidmouth refreshed my spirits!

4 weeks to go before the big walk starts

I am getting nervous now as its only four weeks till I start the first part of my journey of a 100 miles from Crediton to Bath.I am training in the hope that my preparation will be enough to help me complete the 16 miles a day I need to do. This week I followed my normal 11 miles route to Sidford through the Devon lanes and over the hills. Spring  seems to have come alive all of a sudden this week after the recent heavy rain and the bluebells were colouring up in the wood along with the Primroses. Butterflies were emerging from their winter hibernation and I saw lots of Orange tip and small whites, dancing along the hedgerows. Spring has a smell all of its own, a freshness not matched by any other season. On a quiet lane a stoat came running down the road and got very close to me and then startled, turned and ran in the opposite direction. When I'm walking I have lots of time for reflection and I think of all sorts of things. People and places who up to then I had forgotten, until an event or smell triggers a memory. That's the good thing about walking interesting thoughts come to mind and new ways of doing things can be seen. In a busy life most of these are crowded out. At the moment I am reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce https://www.facebook.com/unlikelypilgrimageofharoldfry
In many ways I can relate to his journey and about the lessons he learns from "just keeping walking"

Training walk from Seaton to Sidford- 14 .5 miles

On a cloudy overcast morning I set out via Holyford woods on my walk to Sidford. Last year suicidal squirrels were a problem, but they have been replaced in 2012 by Badgers. I found two of them who had not managed to cross the road dead in the hedgerow. The route I decided to take in order to get fit for my Crediton to Bath Journey in May turned out to be very hilly and over the 14.5 miles I climbed 2,500 feet. I must be getting fitter however as I no longer seem to get blisters on my feet. Gently rubbing in some Vaseline before I start seems to have done the trick! Throughout most of my journey I hardly saw anybody as I walked through quiet Devon villages and over the hills. I was greeted in the small village of Farway by some rather splendid chickens who clucked at me as I stopped for a drink. Out of Farway the road climbs steeply for two miles with one 15% hill followed by two 25% gradient hills. To my surprise when I reached the top I reached a minor road at Roncombe  and descended a 33% gradient road ! The local kennels who are situated on the hill advise owners to park their car at the top of the hill, I could see why. I then took the winding roller coaster path down through the woods and finally emerged at Sidford. I ate some jelly babies and reflected on a job well done!

Planning the first stage of the Big Walk

This week has seen several things come together for the first stage of my walk from Lands End to John O Groats.
Firstly I have fixed the date and the route I will take on my first stage from Crediton to Bath a distance of about 95 miles. This has been broken down into six 15 mile stages which are as follows:
14th May - Crediton to Tiverton
15th May- Tiverton to Hillfarence (near Wellington Somerset)
16th May- Hillfarence to Meare Green ( on the Somerset Levels)
17th May- Meare Green to Glastonbury
18th May-Glastonbury to Stratton-on-the-Fosse ( Mendip Hills)
19th May- Stratton-on-the-Fosse to Bath ( Alison joins me here at a farmhouse B&B and gives me a lift home!)
Booking all the B&B accommodation was fun but means that come rain or shine I have to make each days mileage!

With this in mind I have been out training and walked 10 hilly miles from Seaton to Sidmouth and have done another 5 miles today. My feet are beginning to feel good and rubbing them with Vaseline certainly seem to prevent friction blisters.
Needless to say my fellow Ramblers who I walk with on Fridays think I am Mad!