Dear Maisie, Rowan, Jakie, Stanley, Lauren and Rosie,

Maisie’s movable  third birthday is coming up, so I’ve reversed the order of cousins to put her at the head of the table.  We will all gather together for her celebration. Although well not on the coast we shall find a Peak District river leading there and award it honorary Coastline status. But that is still to come in Episode 86.

For now  this Episode reports on the unifying  walk that turned the dislocated Crimson Worms into one continuous Crimson Worm, with its head near Padstow and the other end near Charlestown. Both in Cornwall.

Elizabeth joined us for the main walk from Looe towards Rame Head, and provided comedic relief from my solitary walking, while Marilyn acted as back up driver and mobile rest home. As with the previous guest walker, Elizabeth  also provided help with the written blogging  exercise after the walk was over. As Poette Laureatte  To The Walk she produced another poem, in honour of this part of the journey . In addition, continuous humorous conversation and evidence of also not growing up, authenticated  by various pictures to come. Again it was only when the accumulating miles approached twelve she became silent indicating lowered energy levels and well earned rest, or ice cream or forbidden alcohol….. I do believe at one rendezvous I passed silently by the back up vehicle for fear of waking her. But the rest revived her and she re-joined at the next halt.

 

 

MAPS      by courtesy of English Nature, with my completed coastal path highlighted in Crimson Worm;  singular because the North and South worms have been linked up in Episode 84. It is now a race to the bottom, at Land’s End. 

The Northern S W Coast Path halt is at Harlyn and Southern counterpart is at Charlestown.  Below is the overall view, still snowing in central England

 The unified Crimson Worm with both heads in Cornwall,  but a spur from Newcastle  to Berwick on Tweed remains.

 

This walk was 26 miles along the South West Coast Path, joining Plymouth to Looe including the Cremyll Ferry from Stone house. Elizabeth joined me on the mainland from Looe for over twelve miles heading for Rame Head.

In addition, I completed   a ferry crossing of the River Yealm  near Noss Mayo to Wembury. Last time out I got lost searching for the ferry and ran out of daylight, but this time refreshed and plenty of sunlight, I managed to complete the circuit. Billy the ferry owner took me across to Warren Point, from where the South West Coast Path resumed its way to Plymouth.

 

 

 

The other loose end to tidy up before our rendezvous with Elizabeth was walking through Plymouth from the Mount Batten Ferry to the Cremyll Ferry. A complete naval cityscape in total contrast to the usual clifftop walking, passing the Citadel under wraps, the Hoe, Smeaton Tower, RNLI Station at Millbay Docks, to the Cremyll Ferry at Stonehouse Marina.

Followed by the Ferry journey to Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe and walk around Redding Point to Kingsand and Cawsand to Rame.

 

The next day, Elizabeth joined us after attending a family wedding in the area over the weekend. The walk  was from Looe towards Rame Head  via Seaton, Downderry, Portwrinkle   ( a prolonged stop in Honour of Marion in New Zealand), inland to avoid the Danger Area of Whitsand Bay, to Freathy and Wiggle Cliff and finally Rame Head, and rendezvous with back up at Rame Church.

And back to accommodation at Plymouth’s Premier Inn, cunningly hidden within an enormous traffic gyratory system so vast that only those born at the hotel can stay there.. We only managed by going in the “OUT” and out the “In” . Otherwise grudgingly better than sleeping in the tentbut akin to Hotel California

 

 

Leaving Looe, The RNLI, closed so no souvenirs; The tame seal , following in Nelson’s flippers; and the pier and beach early morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s hear from Elizabeth’s Poem interspersed with pictures….

Elizabeth joined the convoy heading East at East Looe  for Plaidey, the cliffs were unstable so the footpath changed regularly from beach to road.

 

 

 

“Looking for Poldark again.”

Once more along the coastal paths

And through the gorse galore,

Bob, and old school friend Elizabeth,

Walked twelve miles and more.

Ice cream, Cornish pasties,

We tasted cider too,

Up and down the cliffs and coves

On our journey out of Looe.

We loved the caves and scenery,

(Sadly, we didn’t see Poldark)

Marilyn helped with the back up car

Until it was almost dark.

Views of Plymouth entranced us both

We were grateful to arrive,

We admired the gorgeous flowers

And Elizabeth was thankful to survive.

 

Revived by curry late at night,

We reflected on our day,

Talland Bay provided much needed rest

And a very comfortable stay.

Bob has just two hundred miles to go,

The best is yet to come

He has worn through many boots,

And had a tonne of fun.

Bob welcomes young and old to join him!

He’s looking fit and happy,

So if you have spare holiday,

Please make it very snappy.

Elizabeth. Looe. 2017

 

Refuelling the Back up Driver – that’s clotted cream as well….. I  think the waitress behind is bringing extra supplies?

Serendipity provided the ice cream van – we had two each – with flakes…. Paul Williams was the Ice Cream Vendor and gave us a panoramic explanation of the 360 degree view.

 

Next walk is the Coastline of The Peak District?  I know……