Log No 243. Wed 12th Feb 2014 - Clevedon to Weston-Super-Mare, 15 miles (3722 miles walked)

After enjoying 2 nights hospitality in Bristol, thanks very much Susan it was greatly appreciated, it was back to fending for myself.

I drove to Clevedon, found somewhere to park free and got all my waterproofs on ready to go by 09.30. The weather was as forecast with heavy rain and strong winds, which I had to walk into.

Aside from the weather I didn't get off to a good start. There was no coast path to walk on and I had rivers to walk round. The route was a mix of minor roads and footpaths through fields and went in all directions.

I came out of Clevedon okay and found my way to the farm at the end of a track where I was supposed to pick up a footpath. I could see no sign of a footpath and the ground was an ankle deep grey sludge of mud and run off from cattle sheds. With no easy way through the quagmire I was resigned to having wet, stinking feet and ploughed through it.

Eventually I found a stile and footpath indicator and set off across the muddy fields. You would think I should know better by now and have checked my progress with the compass, but no, with only one footpath shown on the map how could I go wrong?

I came out onto the road but it didn't feel right and, when I saw the name of the farm, realised I was almost a mile off course in completely the opposite direction to where I should have been.

I took the compass out of my rucsac and hung it round my neck.

Back on course I followed the roads through Kingston Seymour and over the M5 to pick up another footpath. This time I had chosen a footpath which went alongside a stream/drain so I couldn't go wrong.

No problems this time and I safely navigated my way over and along the River Yeo to get back onto a road to re-cross the M5.

It was still heavy rain and wind but even though my feet felt surprisingly dry I decided to stick to the roads now which would shorten the walk by a couple of miles.

I was coming to Ebdon, on the outskirts of Weston-Super-Mare, when the driver of a transit van stopped and asked if I wanted a lift, I graciously declined.

A bit further on, near Sand Bay, a car also stopped and the driver offered me a lift, again I had to turn down the offer. When I explained what I was doing, Matt, who sounded Australian (apologies if you're not from Australia Matt), asked if he could make a donation and gave me £20. Thanks very much Matt.

A couple of minutes later Matt had turned around and come back to me to give me another £20 to spend on myself!! Thanks again Matt.

The day was starting to look up, the rain was easing off and the sky brightening up though the wind seemed to be strengthening even more.

I got to Sand Bay at 13.15 and took my first break, the bus shelter keeping me out of the wind while I ate my sandwiches. It's lucky I have plenty of reserves of fat and could have gone all day without stopping!!!

The rain might have stopped but the wind was very strong and I was thankful that at the end of the bay I was able to use a footpath through Weston Woods to give me shelter.

I came across a tent pitched right on the side of the path, there was a bucket & spade outside the tent and a suitcase next to a tree, it looked like the camper was there long term.

At the end of the headland the pier out to Birnbeck Island and the lifeboat station is in serious need of repair.

The headland is the north end of Weston Bay and it was just a short walk now to the centre of Weston-Super-Mare, I arrived at 14.45 just missing the hourly bus service which goes through Clevedon.

If I had checked the bus times before I started today I might have hurried and caught it but I was happy enough to get a coffee and wait for the next one.

With all the disruptions to trains and more bad weather to come it is looking unlikely that my brother, Mick, will be able to join me on Friday for a week. It will be a great pity not to have his company again, if that is the case.

15 rewarding miles.