Today did not start well. I was in the Backpackers Hostel in St Ives and when I went down to the kitchen at 6.15am it was locked with a notice saying that it would be opened at 8.00am. and my food was in the fridge for breakfast and lunch! Additionally I was unable to have a drink or fill my flask and bottle with water. If I waited until 8.00am I would be late so I decided in a not so happy frame of mind to abandon my food and sort things out on the way which was possible as I was passing through various places to start with. So at 7.00am or thereabouts I set off - the co-op around the corner did not open until 8.00am - no good so I set off and found myself on the main road out of town and stopped at a garage which did not have shop but they were very helpful and pointed me to the Tesco up the road which opened at 8.00am but this was not early enough so they told me there was a shop further on at Carbis Bay further down the road which opened at 7.00am When I got there I was able to buy sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. This was the first time I've had chicken Tikka sandwiches for breakfast!. I continued down this road to Lelant and then turned on to the B3301 to Hayle and was nearly out of the town when I saw a cafe with an illuminated sign saying "open". I went in upstairs [it was an odd arrangement really] and I asked the woman if she would do me a favour and as well as provide me with a coffee also fill my flask with coffee and top up my water bottle. She was more than willing and I was surprised to be charged only £2-00.
After this I arrived at the Towans and after a short walk at the back of the sand dunes, joined the coast path along the dunes and then decided to walk on the beach. The tide was going out and the sand looked firm and solid but in reality the first 2 miles it was quite soft but then got firmer until I passed Gwithian Towans when I returned to the dunes until I arrived at Godrevy Towans and took a break for a coffee and cake. I passed Harveys Towans, Mexico Towans, Riviera Towans, Phillack Towans, Upton Towans, Gwithian Towans and Godrevy Towans. At Godrevy Towans there was a coast path sign saying Portreath 6.5 miles which encouraged me as I thought I had more mileage to do than this. The route went slowly uphill and the path was good and progress would have been much quicker had it not been for a very strong headwind blowing from the south east offshore. At 2.00pm I stopped briefly at Bassetts Cove for some lunch and arrived at Portreath at 3.00pm. By this time I had already telephoned my host so that he would have enough time to come and pick me up. I had also decided that due to the wind it would not be sensible to press on further to the next village about 90 minutes further on. I am staying five miles from Newquay where I will be worshiping with the Newquay Elim church tomorrow.
Today I had a problem with the achilles tendon on my right ankle and this improved during the day. It was a bit painful and slowed me a bit but not too much. I could do without this. Otherwise, apart from the occational blister, legs and feet are doing well considering. This coming week I have three really challenging days - Monday to Wednesday as each day is over 20 miles each day.
Reflections on this week, include the amazing waves at the Lizard, seeing choughs at both the Lizard and near Lands End, only having had one really wet day so far, amazing varieties of mushrooms and toadstools, lots of red admirals, have met some really interesting people from different countries walking our coastline, exchanging information on hostels and routes, and feeling reallyexhausted on Friday night after what everyone tells me is the most difficult section of the coast path.
Distance walked 19 miles
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