Last night the walls were thin between bedrooms. Next door it sounded as though somebody was rearranging the furniture during a couple of hours before and after I retired. I awoke several times, possibly 1,2,and 3 o'clock and could hear a deep male monologue going on but couldn't identify the words or if another person was responding more quietly.
I rarely seem to get an undisturbed night on these trips - I could reel off another ten anecdotes without thinking along these lines.
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Friday, 12 September 2014
Day 10 - Sidmouth to Exemouth and Torquay - 12th Sept.
Breakfast at the Sidholme was sensational, a help yourself to almost anything you could think of with staff flying round clearing used plates all in this wonderful stately home setting with immaculately laid tables. It must be the event of the day for these mainly elderly people who seem to go there just to have somebody to talk to, but the ones I tried with had little to say and seemed to have just given up on life. The Christian connection was promoting friendliness, but I was saddened at lack of education leaving these people like empty shells in late life ( many of them a lot younger than me).
Some strenuous walking to start then easier stuff on good paths with stunning views made for excellent walking. I snacked at Budleigh Salterton. Why does food get served on top of the serviette thus soiling it before you can use it?
My previous walk to Rutland intended to connect with this one at Abbotsbury, but I had restarted at Poole and taken an extra day circumnavigating Portland so I was now behind schedule for a meeting with friends in the territory I was now entering. I decided to bail out from the SWCP at Exemouth instead of Torquay and take the train there. I arrived at Torquay at 5:30 and wandered aimlessly for a while until I was directed to the hub of b and bs. It took some time to find one with "vacancies". The Crimden Dene run by Margaret and John Grosse for the last fifteen years is fine - Falkland Road, Torquay, TQ2 5JP.
Not brought camera to pub so photos to follow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Some strenuous walking to start then easier stuff on good paths with stunning views made for excellent walking. I snacked at Budleigh Salterton. Why does food get served on top of the serviette thus soiling it before you can use it?
My previous walk to Rutland intended to connect with this one at Abbotsbury, but I had restarted at Poole and taken an extra day circumnavigating Portland so I was now behind schedule for a meeting with friends in the territory I was now entering. I decided to bail out from the SWCP at Exemouth instead of Torquay and take the train there. I arrived at Torquay at 5:30 and wandered aimlessly for a while until I was directed to the hub of b and bs. It took some time to find one with "vacancies". The Crimden Dene run by Margaret and John Grosse for the last fifteen years is fine - Falkland Road, Torquay, TQ2 5JP.
Not brought camera to pub so photos to follow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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
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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
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My hut at Seatown
Here is a comment that I received but it was not shown because, I think, of the anonymous signature.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Photos for day 4":
The old lady who owns "The Cabin" in Seatown is my mother, Veronica Bickford; she was very excited to have you as her first guest. Thank you for letting her know about the lack of mirror and mugs; all constructive comments are welcome.
To book The Cabin please ring my brother Humph on 07816188097. The price is £50.00 per night room only paid on arrival in cash. There are basic provisions supplied such as milk, tea, coffee, muesli, sugar. Towels provided.
May your journey continue well
Best wishes
Georgie
Posted by Anonymous to conradwalks at 10 September 2014 12:58
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Photos for day 4":
The old lady who owns "The Cabin" in Seatown is my mother, Veronica Bickford; she was very excited to have you as her first guest. Thank you for letting her know about the lack of mirror and mugs; all constructive comments are welcome.
To book The Cabin please ring my brother Humph on 07816188097. The price is £50.00 per night room only paid on arrival in cash. There are basic provisions supplied such as milk, tea, coffee, muesli, sugar. Towels provided.
May your journey continue well
Best wishes
Georgie
Posted by Anonymous to conradwalks at 10 September 2014 12:58
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Day 7 - Seatown to Axmouth. Wednesday 9th Sept.
Details for my hut: humphreybickford@outlook.com
07816188097 - self catering - £60.
I was off up Golden Cap after being given a bacon sandwich and a bowl of fruit all helped on by a pot of tea made in my hut.
I was first on the path and birds and wildlife were frequent. Golden Cap is the highest point on the south west coast of England.
It was very hot and I made a long road descent to Charmouth due to cliff falls.
Again there is another major closure between Lyme Regis and Seaton necessitating a several kilometre trek on an A road with no pathway - 'twas all a bit hairy.
Quarter of a mile out of Axmouth there was a B and B, but I pressed on to look at the pub and campsite, then decided to track back to the B and B, but there was no response at the door, so I did yet another quarter mile back to the campsite. I was going to pitch my tent in some shade then realised a party of six or so, tattooed, and earinged were drinking cans of beer, playing loud music, and doing a good impersonation of Blackpool on a bank holiday.
I moved to the other side of the site, pitched the tent then found my neighbour was playing Radio2 non stop. Next a motor home rolled up and said I was in the pitch the warden had directed them to. Fortunately they were happy to roll up to the back of my tent and leave it at that.
I am now at The Ship which is incredibly busy. Tables have been reserved and I was allocated a high stool high table which was only made comfortable by hoicking the chair from the opposite side to rest my feet on.
I am just too weary to do the photos from camera to iPad, they will follow next time I am civilised. Getting in and out of that tent is excruciating - I reckon my camping days are not far from over, but I must say this has been an excellent trip so far.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
07816188097 - self catering - £60.
I was off up Golden Cap after being given a bacon sandwich and a bowl of fruit all helped on by a pot of tea made in my hut.
I was first on the path and birds and wildlife were frequent. Golden Cap is the highest point on the south west coast of England.
It was very hot and I made a long road descent to Charmouth due to cliff falls.
Again there is another major closure between Lyme Regis and Seaton necessitating a several kilometre trek on an A road with no pathway - 'twas all a bit hairy.
Quarter of a mile out of Axmouth there was a B and B, but I pressed on to look at the pub and campsite, then decided to track back to the B and B, but there was no response at the door, so I did yet another quarter mile back to the campsite. I was going to pitch my tent in some shade then realised a party of six or so, tattooed, and earinged were drinking cans of beer, playing loud music, and doing a good impersonation of Blackpool on a bank holiday.
I moved to the other side of the site, pitched the tent then found my neighbour was playing Radio2 non stop. Next a motor home rolled up and said I was in the pitch the warden had directed them to. Fortunately they were happy to roll up to the back of my tent and leave it at that.
I am now at The Ship which is incredibly busy. Tables have been reserved and I was allocated a high stool high table which was only made comfortable by hoicking the chair from the opposite side to rest my feet on.
I am just too weary to do the photos from camera to iPad, they will follow next time I am civilised. Getting in and out of that tent is excruciating - I reckon my camping days are not far from over, but I must say this has been an excellent trip so far.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Additional pics for last post
Seatown. The Anchor is the white building near the sea. My retreat was just to the right in the trees
My little hut - fabulous
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Day 7 - Puncknowle to Seatown. Tuesday 9th. Sept.
I used the wet walking shirt as a pillow and it was dry this morning.
There was no breakfast available. I do have some biscuits and things but didn't bother. I trudged back over the hill and down to the café on the shingle from where I walked inland last night but it was still closed at 9:15.
More Chesil shingle for a mile or so was hard going. Your feet crunch deep in, and the pebbles are uniform, the size of sparrows eggs, and there is no traction as you push off with each foot.
Relief came at Burton Bradstock (bacon butty and pot of tea), a little idyllic bay and sandy beach, with a huge, highly organised café and parking arrangements more suited to the Olympics. Despite the end of school holidays it is still so busy - all the retirees have come out of their home hibernation and are making good in this unseasonal heat wave. The walk is now developing a pattern of near deserted, exhilarating cliff top walking contrasted with commercialised bays with intense populations of motor conveyed day trippers.
A steep climb out of a Burton then cliff tops and a descent took me to West Bay, a full scale town with a proper harbour, and again incredibly busy. From here quite serious ups and down brought me to Seatown.
At the pub I was trying to ask about accommodation when I was interrupted by a Dutch girl clutching a laptop and quizzing me about what I was doing - the pub was fully booked and the girl then told me about a lady with a room just up the road. We exited the pub for directions and the girl spotted an elderly lady and shouted. It turned out the girl was part of a Dutch TV crew making a documentary for Dutch TV about England and they had some interaction with this lady, and as a group with colleagues of my guardian angel we wandered a couple of hundred windy yards up a track to a hidden wood built bungalow with a blue painted wooden annexe attached which was my room. It was like fairyland. Some time later a guy appeared who I suspect was the son of the elderly lady and told me I was the first person to be using this newly established facility.
I am now in the Anchor having had a smoked haddock and salmon gratin dish and some local ale - all good stuff. I will try and find more details to publicise my little retreat. There are pretty good self catering facilities, a huge double bed and a shower, but the wc and washroom, fully appointed with washing machine and ironing facilities is in another wooden hut thirty yards back down the lane, but the whole set up is quirky, attractive, different and certainly appealing to me.
The harbour at West Bay
The steep ascent back onto cliffs from West Bay
More cliffs ahead
Looking back east - that is only part of Chesil Beach!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
There was no breakfast available. I do have some biscuits and things but didn't bother. I trudged back over the hill and down to the café on the shingle from where I walked inland last night but it was still closed at 9:15.
More Chesil shingle for a mile or so was hard going. Your feet crunch deep in, and the pebbles are uniform, the size of sparrows eggs, and there is no traction as you push off with each foot.
Relief came at Burton Bradstock (bacon butty and pot of tea), a little idyllic bay and sandy beach, with a huge, highly organised café and parking arrangements more suited to the Olympics. Despite the end of school holidays it is still so busy - all the retirees have come out of their home hibernation and are making good in this unseasonal heat wave. The walk is now developing a pattern of near deserted, exhilarating cliff top walking contrasted with commercialised bays with intense populations of motor conveyed day trippers.
A steep climb out of a Burton then cliff tops and a descent took me to West Bay, a full scale town with a proper harbour, and again incredibly busy. From here quite serious ups and down brought me to Seatown.
At the pub I was trying to ask about accommodation when I was interrupted by a Dutch girl clutching a laptop and quizzing me about what I was doing - the pub was fully booked and the girl then told me about a lady with a room just up the road. We exited the pub for directions and the girl spotted an elderly lady and shouted. It turned out the girl was part of a Dutch TV crew making a documentary for Dutch TV about England and they had some interaction with this lady, and as a group with colleagues of my guardian angel we wandered a couple of hundred windy yards up a track to a hidden wood built bungalow with a blue painted wooden annexe attached which was my room. It was like fairyland. Some time later a guy appeared who I suspect was the son of the elderly lady and told me I was the first person to be using this newly established facility.
I am now in the Anchor having had a smoked haddock and salmon gratin dish and some local ale - all good stuff. I will try and find more details to publicise my little retreat. There are pretty good self catering facilities, a huge double bed and a shower, but the wc and washroom, fully appointed with washing machine and ironing facilities is in another wooden hut thirty yards back down the lane, but the whole set up is quirky, attractive, different and certainly appealing to me.
The harbour at West Bay
The steep ascent back onto cliffs from West Bay
More cliffs ahead
Looking back east - that is only part of Chesil Beach!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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