Friday 2 August 2013

Day 12 - Wednesday 31 July

12.4 miles - Widemouth Bay to Marsland Mouth

A really lovely morning.  My training partner Jo joined me and we set off from Widemouth at 8am.  The first part was pretty easy going and we managed 4.5 miles in the first hour.  Before attempting to walk/run the coast I would have thought this was a terrible speed, but after 11 days on the coast, this was impressive.

North of Bude the coast and cliffs became more wild and bleak and the hills started.  Near the radio station at Harscott we realised that we had gone the wrong way when the sea was on our right instead of left!  The headlands have some interesting names and we passed Lower Sharpnose Point and then Higher Sharpnose Point.  There were several steep ascents and descents but also some good running through fields in between.  We stoppped to take photos at Hawkers Hut near Morwenstow and shortly afterwards saw a sign for Marsland Mouth - 1.75miles.  We realised that we were ahead of schedule so I called Alan to let him know that we should get there an hour earlier than expected.

Finally we reached Marsland Cliff and I was almost sad that I had climbed my last hill.  The hill down to Marsland Mouth was a runnable hill so we were able to run to the end.  We were met by a welcoming party of 2 men and 2 dogs (Alan and Alfie and a photographer and his dog Finley).  I had actually been quite worried about whether Alan would find Marsland Mouth as it is a 20 minute trek down a footpath from a very tiny remote road.

It was a funny feeling to get to the end, but it was special that Jo had joined me for the last leg as we had done so many of our training runs together - thank you, Jo. 

After a few photos we walked back up the hill to the car.  I will do another 'mop up' post if you want to look out for it!

Higher Sharpnose Point

Jo in Hawkers Hut



Wild cliffs

Marsland Cliff

Marsland Mouth (won't be going up that hill)


Marsland Mouth - the end!

Me and Jo at Marsland Mouth

Day 11 - Tuesday 30 July

26.8 tough miles - Port Gaverne to Widemouth Bay

This was the hardest day so far with plenty of hills from the start of the day until the end.  The toughest hills were probably up to High Cliff between Boscastle and Crackington and then at Lower Tresmorn the other side of Crackington.  The hills in the guidebook were described as 'steep', 'very steep', 'very very steep', and 'extremely steep'.  I think Richard may have regretted joining me!

We started off to a sprinkling of rain but that soon disappeared and the weather was hot whereas the forecast was for rain!  We were prepared with sun cream.  We passed through the edge of Tintagel, Boscastle and Crackington Haven eventually arriving at Widemouth at 5.30pm.  By the end of the day we had developed our own style which probably looked as if we had fallen out - I went ahead going up hill and Richard went on going downhill.

Alan then dropped Richard off to his car at Wadebridge and he (Richard) then had a 2 hour drive home,  by which time Alan and I were in the pub.

We stayed in Bude in a hotel stuck in a 1970's time warp.  The owners were very friendly but their dogs were not so friendly when they attacked poor Alfie.

Looking forward to the final leg on Wednesday.
Start of the steep hills


More steep hills

Yet more steep hills (the photos don't do them justice)

Wednesday 31 July 2013

Day 9 - photos

Far end of Perran Sands

The Gannell

Hueks Hut, Newquay

Newquay

Julie and Alfie

Day 5 - photos

Devils Frying pan, Cadgwith

The Lizard, most southerly point in UK

Porthleven Sands (bit blurry!)

View from Porthleven

Day 4 - photos

Jackie at Pendennis Head

Not an adder but a slow worm

Coverack

Black Head

Day 3 - photos

Pete at Portmellon

Dodman Point in the mist

Lovely Carne Beach

St Mawes

Day 2 - photos


First ferry crossing - from Polruan

Gribbin Tower, Gribbin Head

Lots of steps!