Today was an endless tarmac path, the Tarka trail. Perfect for cycling, and full of people walking, jogging and biking. Views were OK but just estuary. You’d think it would be easy to walk on a level, straight path but the hard texture and uniformity of it did my feet and joints no favours. It felt like a very long day. I was walking for seven hours. However, the extremely welcome aspect of the day was the weather - the promised lunchtime storm manifested itself ans an heavy shower while I was in Boots in Barnstaple buying insoles, so I didn’t get soaked again.
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It was all pretty much like this!
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| Approaching Barnstaple - clouds brewing! |
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The Tarka Trail is an old railway track
so there were lots of these |
There were some characterful boats
at Fremington and Yelland
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| View of Appledore from Instow |
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| The quay at Instow |
I would probably have called it a day at Instow if I hadn’t known that I will be carrying a full pack tomorrow and it is designed to be a day of relative rest for my legs. I plodded on for the extra three miles to Bideford but was really looking forward to sitting down. At long last, Bideford bridge appeared.
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| Hallelujah! |
My feet were sore and bruised, my hip joints were complaining with every step. I got to Boots just in time before it closed at 5pm and bought some ibuprofen.
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| On the bus back to my Airbnb |
Should sleep well tonight!
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