Day 51 - Tuesday October 19th.

Last night I stayed in a b & b in an old cottage. Thelma the lady was a real old fashioned sort, to make a drink I had to use her kitchen which she didn't mind at all. The house had a real lived in appearance with things everywhere. The dining room had lots of newly made pickle which she had made. The floor levels were all uneven and odd steps which I was worried I might miss going to the bathroom at night. She was really helpful and I had an earlyish breakfast at 7.30 and left the house at 8.10. I had a long walk along the road to Saunton as Thelma's house was More than 2 miles from the Coast Path where I left it yesterday. I took a different route to re-connect with the Coast Path today but it was nearly 3.5miles to get there. I re-joined the Coast Path at Saunton Bay Hotel at 9.10am, and I walked around the [un-named headland into Croyde Bay] and walked across the sandy beach. At the otherside I was joined by another walker called Oliver and we walked and chatted together until we parted at Putsborough Sands some time later. we were at Baggy Point at 10.30am and arrived at Putsborough Sands at 11.20am and stopped for a drink - I had a Bovril drink for a change as this was on offer. Oliver left me at this point and continued as he did not want to stop.

I resumed walkingat 11.30am and walked accross the extensive Woolacombe Sand which is about 2.5 miles long. Its about 25 years since I walked this bay and I enjoyed it very much. It is one of my favourite beaches and brings back many happy memories from my youth! I made good time and arrived in Woolacome itself at 12.15 and continued to Morte Point, then on around to Bull Point and its lighthouse - I set myself the target of getting there before eating lunch. I arrived there at 1.40pm and took my lunch break. I resumed walking at 1.55pm and the sign where I stopped for lunch said Lee 1.5miles and Morte Point 1.75miles. When I got to Lee there was a further sign indicating Ilfracombe to be only 3 miles. I was encouraged as my legs were feeling tired already! I arrived in Ilfracombe at 4.15pm and found a mosaic in a lawn and a plaque stating that this was to commeorate the achievements of Johnathan Edwards and was opened by his parents in 2002. [The interest here is that I am Jonathan's godfather and have known his parents for about 45 years.] At 4.30pm I checked into Ocean Backpackers hostel and have been able to chill out a bit!

Distance walked today, including the distance to get back on the Coast Path is 21 miles.
Tomorrow is slightly less. I have slightly less than 40 miles to get to Minehead. My right leg is playing me up so I may have to split Thursdays walk and stop overnight in Porlock and then complete the final 9 miles to Minehead on Friday morning as I had originally planned.