Thu 29th April - Day 13, Appledore to Braunton (19 miles)

There is no walking along the coast today, it is all estuaries,

After raining through the night it was a dry morning, although cloudy and I set off at 7:30 walking along the west side of the River Torridge into Bideford.

The map had shown a passenger ferry operating between Appledore and Instow, which would have suited me fine, but it was a summer only service !!

I had to walk under the first bridge (carrying the A39) and continue on to the next bridge in the centre of Bideford.

After crossing over I headed back north on the other side of the river, this was into the face of a stiff cold wind & I needed to put a second shirt on.

This track, also called The Tarka Trail, is on the line of the dismantled railway and follows the R Torridge north to Instow where it swings east and follows the south side of the River Taw to Barnstaple.

At Barnstaple I crossed over the river on the road bridge and after stopping for my sandwiches, continued on the Tarka Trail, west, on the north side of the river, to get to Braunton.

With all the hard work involved with the ups and downs of the coastal path you would have thought it would be sheer bliss to walk on the flat. But mile after mile of straight line walking when all you can see in front of you is more tarmac is just as tiring.

After walking 19 miles to be just 3.5 miles from where I was yesterday I had had enough & finished the day at the campsite on the west side of Braunton.

193 miles completed.