For newcomers

At the bottom of each post there is the word "comments". If you click on it you will see comments made by followers, and if you follow the instructions you may also comment and I always welcome that. I have found many people overlook this part of the blog which is often more interesting than the original post!

My blog nick-name is SIR HUGH. I'm not from the aristocracy - my middle name is Hugh which relates to the list of 282 hills in Scotland compiled by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891. I climbed my last one (Sgurr Mor) on 28th June 2009

****************************

Thursday 11 September 2014

Day 9 - Axmouth to Sidmouth - 11thSept.

Well, after moving across the site and pitching the tent I found the guy in the next tent was playing Radio 2 non stop, albeit fairly quietly but still irritating. Next a motor home rolled up having been directed to this pitch by the warden, and it is also their favourite pitch where they come to watch the birds on the Ax estuary which is only a few yards from the site. John and Terry turned out to be thoroughly decent people and were agreeable to just pulling up to the back of my tent.

Returning from the pub in the dark I missed a kerb and went full length into the road skinning and knocking up some fingers - blood everywhere, sorry no photos. 'Twas nothing too serious, just annoying.

Back at the tent I got myself installed and then found that Mr. Radio 2 was snoring loudly and that persisted right through the night as I slept only intermittently. Heavy condensation had occurred by morning and the outer tent was wet through and everything inside was slightly damp. Getting in and out of the tent is now a difficult and unpleasant experience with the knee problems. I reckon I am moving away from tenting fast.

Having packed up John and Terry emerged from their motor home and offered me tea and toast and I sat inside with them until about 8:45 (here we go again Mick and Gayle) - John and Terry if you are reading this I have a reputation with the aforementioned bloggers and good friends for being offered teas and the like on my travels.

I walked in the shade down the Ax estuary to Seaton wearing my waterproof for warmth, but once back into the sun it was another hot and sweaty day. There was yet another diversion after Seaton involving unpleasant road walking, but after that it was grand scenery on good paths all day, but with some pretty strenuous cliff ascents and descents. All the cliffs you see in my pics are walked on the SWCP.

There was a big beach café at Branscombe Mouth (tea and bacon butty). There are many people walking on the path but few serious walkers. One exception I met a few days ago had started from Minehead on 22nd June and still had about 100 miles to go to the finish, but she had two greyhounds and a terrier, and another dog shortly to return after being sent home for a rest - imagine carrying all the usual stuff and dog food for four dogs as well - a real toughy. I have a blog address which I will share when I dig it out again.

At the TIC in Sidmouth they found me a room in Sidholme Hotel. This is an impressive stately home built for the 5th Earl of Buckingham in 1826. It is now run as an hotel by Christian Guild. They provide for people who want to get together and dining is communal on tables of eight of which there were perhaps a dozen. Activities are organised, but after sitting at a table that was more like being in a rest home I shuttled back to my room to do this post. I have to say that the food was good and the table service was exemplary, and the building interior is well worth seeing, and at £47 B and B very good value.

There are a few tales of woe here but I am thoroughly enjoying the walk and my discovering of the SWCP. I applaud and respect anybody who has completed the whole thing either in a continuous journey or in bits and pieces. There is so much attractive stuff to see in this country and in my opinion walking is the only way you can see much of it.

PLEASE CLICK OICS TO ENLARGE.




John and Terry, my tent in the background and the Ax estuary beyond


Looking down the Ax estuary to Seaton - chilly in the shade





Seaton Bay


Typical cliff walking



Branscombe Mouth






The music room in Sidholme Hotel



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

10 comments:

  1. Nine days to achieve an unsolicited cup of tea? That must be a record!

    Good to hear that the walking's good and fun being had. Fingers crossed that the weather holds a wee while longer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katie got your postcard and said, "I love Grand Pa"!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't think I've ever met someone who was thoroughly decent. But then I moved away from tenting - almost a poetic concept - many years ago.

    I fell like you did except there were many spectators. I fell off a well disguised platform in the midst of the pavement area of a bar in the French village of Aniane. Two men in their thirties rushed to help me up. A double whammy, if you like. The fact that I had now taken to falling in and around bars and that those watching weren't convinced I had the means to get up. Frenchmen too.

    Eheu fugaces. Sorry if I've used this one on you before. It's Horace, as I'm sure you knew.

    ReplyDelete
  4. noticed whilst buying the deeply discounted crusaders tent : very low (65cm??) one and two man (person) ulw backpacking tents with no end door but one or two side doors with long zips running almost the length of the tent - one just unzips and rolls out, it seems - answer to your prayer perhaps?
    I once had Xmas lunch in a place like your hotel - have never had such a rapid meal and departure - I thought I would choke.
    It is an interesting commentary on national behaviours, the urge, and rush, to help (or not): French people (and Germans, to a slightly less enthusiastic but perhaps better organised extent) do it because it is the law and they can go to jail if they don't: some chap called Bonaparte instituted it apparently: Americans do it gushingly - perhaps in the hope of reward or share in the damages: we don't, nowadays, for fear of being sued if we accidentally cause, or aggravate existing, injuries, but are happy to stand by, watch and wait for the fire/police/ambulance that someone else has called!
    So I read: elements of truth, perhaps, but a little unfair as generalisations.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gimmer - I guess it was the Abbot Hall hotel at Grange-over-Sands you Xmased at, it is part of the same Christian Guild organisation.

    ReplyDelete
  6. must check that one out - sounds like the art gallery - this was near the head of Coniston Water.
    i was reminded of your dilemma when looking at those little 'Forclaz' tents - 'mind the drop' as you roll out would be a necessary precaution, I imagine: perhaps you could modify yours likewise (I know a good seamstress in Kendal who is a dab hand with zips!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The trouble with rolling out is that you would be doing so onto wet grass.

      Delete
  7. Hi Conrad,
    We used to use that campsite on an annual Open Canoe Assoc.get together and paddle around the coast either east or west. I recall tasty cream teas in Beer.

    ReplyDelete
  8. WP - hi Bob. I've seen quite a few CANOEISTS (or paddlers) and wish it is something I had had a go at but I reckon it's a bit late in life now with my knee problems and the like. That is not a bad campsite with choice of two decent pubs within a hundred yards or so.

    ReplyDelete
  9. WP - hi Bob. I've seen quite a few CANOEISTS (or paddlers) and wish it is something I had had a go at but I reckon it's a bit late in life now with my knee problems and the like. That is not a bad campsite with choice of two decent pubs within a hundred yards or so.

    ReplyDelete