Sat 24th April - Day 8, Delabole Point to near Boscastle (14 miles)

Started walking at 7:10 with the sun just coming over the hill, the scenery is magnificent, a lot like Orkney. There are still lots of swallows and pheasants about and I watched a hawk trying to catch a seagull, I would have liked to be able to carry my bird & flower books with me for there was such a lot to see but I had enough to carry and I didn’t have the time to stop & nature watch, I’ll need to come back here again sometime.

There was some early morning sea mist but it cleared away after an hour or so.

The path was as tough as yesterday with a series of 5 down & ups before I reached my first water stop at Trebarwith Strand,

I had a break at 10:30 when I got to Tintagel and stocked up with provisions: rolls, cheese spread (instead of butter), ham slices, bananas, small cakes, tins of stewed steak, beans and custard (some for my cereal in the morning).

It's all the more weight for the rucsac but I can’t afford pub lunches all the time. I have allowed myself a generous budget of £20 a day, but that has to account for campsite fees, phone calls, general expenses and any emergencies.

Wandering around Tintagel, being a tourist, I realized I didn’t have my walking poles in my hands, luckily they were still standing outside the Spar shop. I had never used poles before this trip but they make a huge difference and take a lot of strain off the legs & knees.

It was very hot and I had to cover my legs while I had lunch near Trevalga. I arrived at Boscastle at 13:00 and decided to stay a while as it was so picturesque.

I revised my plans for the day, the next campsites were 3 and 12 miles away, and I didn't fancy doing 12 more miles up and down in this heat.

I got to the campsite at Lower Pennycrocker Farm at 16:00 and got a much needed shower, the facilities were basic so I hand washed my clothes and laid them out on the grass to dry. I took them back in at 20:00 still damp so I'll have to hang them on the back of my rucsac tomorrow, more excess weight.

Well I have survived the first full week, only 10 more to go, my right leg is still aching but the blisters seem okay. I only did 13 miles today and I could do with a Roman Road to walk along for a change.

118 miles completed.