Day 11: Bradworthy to Bideford

Another day that was not too long, too strenuous or too hot. There was lots of sun, but also a breeze, and much of my walk was along shady lanes. Finished walking by 4.15.

Having said goodbye to the Darwins I walked back lanes across Devon – plenty of hills but none as tiring as the really steep Cornish ones. I planned to get a sandwich in Buckland Brewer, but the shop there shuts at 12, so I went without lunch.

On the way I passed signs for the Gnome Reserve, a pleasingly eccentric tourist attraction which is set up as a place to observe hundreds of Garden Gnomes in their natural habitat. We had taken the kids there in 1993, but Tom (then 22) and I returned in 2005, because it was so successfully silly. This was part of a holiday where he and I stayed in a cottage which used to be Terry-Thomas’s holiday home!

I ended the walk on the cycle way into Bideford, where I had been on two holidays and an unsuccessful job interview. There is something impressive about towns spanning large rivers and I like Bideford.

I was picked up and stayed with old friends Richard and Hilary Edwards. Richard taught me music at school from 1967, and late became a family friend in about 1979, when we also met Hilary. It was great to see them.

Today also saw the first flowering of ‘Operation Jiffy Bag’. I have sent jiffy bags ahead of me containing maps for the different stages, toiletries and dietary supplements, and stamps to cover the return postage of maps that are finished with. This was quite an exercise at home before I left!

The first of these was waiting here at Richard and Hilary’s though (classic!) there turned out to be a map missing, so I have probably sent it on to a future jiffy point when it will be no use! It is odd now having all the maps as far as Bristol – feels like progress.

Tomorrow will be the first completely flat day – on the Tarka Trail round the Torridge and Taw Estuaries. No steep hills and no traffic dodging – but possibly more miles than previously.

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To support any of the four charities go to https://linktr.ee/guygoesnorth

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Daily Data

Days left until John O’Groats	65
Route miles walked	166.14
Estimated miles until John O’Groats	885
Evening and rest day walking	3.5
Counties walked through	2
Ferry miles	0.4
Number of walking companions so far	3
Number of stiles crossed	38
Current sponsorship total	£12,183.82
Cast of characters	Jeremy Pemberton, Laurence Cunnington, Brad Poulson, Adele Poulson, Graeme Parkhill, Andy Hellwig, Patrick Lynn, Esther Lynn, Emma Rayner, Quentin Rayner, Sara Low, Robbie Low, Christopher Darwin, Heather Darwin, Christine Hytch, Chris Hytch and Annown, Hilary Edwards, Richard Edwards

Support the Charities

To donate to any of the four charities, click here.