A desk and a chair in my room – a first!
I feel I am on sort of home territory now I am in Somerset – I lived in the County for 17 years and in fact conducted concerts with the County Youth Choir in both Minehead and Nether Stowey.
Today was always going to be a long way, but was even longer!
The start was easy enough, simply along the front from Minehead to beyond Blue Anchor (where our family stayed in 1971).
Then up through Watchet (snack lunch) and up and up to the top of the Quantocks. This was the first occasion where I lost my way. I had intended to skirt Quantoxhead (very big hill!) but instead ended up going right over the top of it. I had never been up this end of the Quantocks before and despite the climbing the amazing views were well worth it, and the paths at the top agreed with the map so I was able head on without any trouble.
I got to Holford at about 5.45. Had there been any option to stop there I would have done so, but I had to soldier on. I had country lanes planned, but decided to follow a much shorter route through the woods.
However I had forgotten a golden rule – paths in woods seldom agree with the map, so I got lost for the second time. Not only did this take me further but it brought me out of the very busy A39, which meant 45 minutes of traffic dodging.
I finally arrived at 7.35, and had quick shower before joining my friends Rachel and Mark Robbins for supper – excellent food, but the staff delivered the mains and starters at the same time (in my case the starter arrived after main! Very odd.) It was good to see the Robbinses.
So the day was the longest so far, and longer than was healthy – 21 miles. Even going to the top of the Quantocks did not make it the day with most elevation – it came in second to the Boscastle to Widemouth day.
There will be a lot of flat walking tomorrow, but I need to do some rerouting to make sure it is as short a day as possible – especially as we are still in he amber heat waring.
During the day I drank 4 litres of water – plus 1.5 pints of lemonade!
Today's route
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Daily Data
Days left until John O’Groats | 59 |
Route miles walked | 256.83 |
Estimated miles until John O’Groats | 799 |
Evening and rest day walking | 4.5 |
Counties walked through | 3 |
Ferry miles | 0.4 |
Number of walking companions so far | 3 |
Number of stiles crossed | 42 |
Current sponsorship total | £12,183.82 |
Cast of characters (Bold = walking companions) | 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, Rachel Robbins, Mark Robbins |
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