Bude to Hartland Quay to Clovelly and Barnstaple 46 miles

Decided to split the Bude to Clovelly day into two as it's the hardest part of the whole walk with over 2400metres of climbing up and down the coastline. And it's really hot down here, which is no fun with a big pack on your back! Campsite at Hartland Quay is very basic - hope there's a shop at Clovelly tomorrow, finding food for Sal is difficult. I think we might have to have a day off soon as Sal is worryingly tired tonight; she fell asleep on her feet today.
Too many tourists at Tintagel, but no sign of King Arthur. As the pub was a mile away from the campsite I tried a nearby tea room - yum yum - pasties with a side of gravy and meat, then cream scones and fruit cake (Sal likes fruit cake) all finished off with a big mug of tea (if you'd walked as far as I have today you'd be drooling over it too).
I met a lovely couple from Bawtry today who have insisted I ring them when I get up to Yorkshire so they can come and meet me and to ring them if I need anything in the area - some folk are just fab! And some look at me as though I'm a tramp - I might look a bit dirty....
Having said that Sal is very tired when she wakes up in the morning it's "Oh goody, off again!"

We've walked 23 miles to Barnstaple now. Have been on the go for 12 hours. Both a bit whacked. It wasn't pleasant walking through Barnstaple either. We had a pastie and a cup of tea near Bideford (in a tea room in an old railway carriage on an old railway line track we were walking on) - got a free scone and cream too!
Sal has got used to the tent and stands near the entrance when she wants me to let her in so she can go to sleep!
I left her in the tent to go for a wash and a shower; two seconds later she came tearing down the field after me. She's being very good.
I met a man who was walking the South West Coastal Path the opposite way to me today and he asked if it was as bad as it says up to Bude. "Oh yes," I said "and worse!" He said he's done a lot of walking in Scotland and this coastline is harder - I agree with him.
We're going to have a rest day tomorrow; Good luck to Stuart in his rowing on Saturday from Newark to Nottingham for Wish upon a Star charity and hope Scunny win too! YNRA Stu!

Boscastle to Bude

Sat 23.4.11 very, very tough up and down valleys; Sal loves it. Rucksack is heavy now as I've got all my maps from John and Ann who I met up with in Boscastle last night. Really big thanks to them for bringing me down here last weekend and meeting me yesterday before they go home to Winteringham and back to work...did I mention that I'm having a couple of months off work? Although I think so far this is tougher! Now it really is just me, Sal and James. I'll be setting off really early tomorrow to head for Hartland Quay (another tough up and down valleys day expected). I can't wait to get away from today's campsite. It's full of holiday makers! They're having an Elvis impersonation competition tonight; I won't enter - I could sing but I don't think he had a border collie dog. I'm sending some pics back with Ann and John. You'll see some of them with this post, the scenery is stunning. PS most of them look like Sal's holiday snaps as I haven't been able to get her to take any pics yet. The coast is still on my left so I haven't got lost yet; it could get trickier in a few days when I leave the coast and head inland. Enjoy the photos and remember INWA! (Stu it's INWA for me and YNWA from you....)

The Camel Trail

A  hot day, more up and down coastline, then The Camel Trail from Padstow to Wadebridge (it follows a disused railway alongside the River Camel). Lots of cyclists on there - saw a Jack Russel in a cycle basket and a Westie in a buggie towed by a cyclist. Then we saw a Westie being carried in a ruck sack - forget it Sal, you're walking!
The campsite is basic (that's being kind). Heading for Boscastle tomorrow to the rebuilt Youth Hostel. We'll see you there - and remember INWA!
PS Should have some pictures to post after the weekend.

Zennor, Gwithiam, Perranporth and Mawgan Porth

Land's End to Zennor 16 miles, to Gwithian 16 miles, to Perranporth 19 miles and to Mawgan Porth 17 miles...only 1100 to go!
The scenery is stunning (except the cars and people in Newquay - far too many of them) the coast walking is really hard, up and down and rocky. Really kind camp site at Gwithian where they cut a patch of grass just for me and Sal to camp on. The Youth Hostel at Perranporth was fantastic - great food and very friendly. Sal ate Spag Bol leftovers - how am I going to get her to eat dog food? And we both had scrambled egg and toast for breakfast! Sal is eating dog food too I hasten to add, she just keeps sharing mine too. I met some really nice people walking today, two ladies walking the coastal path said I was going the wrong way. I told them 'not when you're walking to Scotland'...they said "you're not joking are you" and then they sponsored me, which was very kind - many thanks to them.
I've heard from Joanne and Stu that we've got some more sponsor money back home too - thank you very much to everyone. And apparently Jo has taken up painting and decorating - I might have some competition when I get back; or maybe an apprentice?

I must remember to say thank you to Lowe Alpine and North Face too. Lowe Alpine kindly gave me a huge ruck sack from their charity stock and North Face gave me a lightweight waterproof coat from their charity cupboard. The ruck sack has really good back supports which my old one had none of - it really is helpful when you're carrying your house on your back!

And a message for Rachael - I'm camped by a couple in a Volkswagon camper van just like those that Jack likes :o).

Me, Sal and our constant companion, James, are off for an early night (it's only a very small tent...) - but we do have very early mornings! The waves crashing against the cliffs are noisy when you're not used to them.

17 miles again tomorrow to Wadebridge, then 19 miles to Boscastle to the rebuilt Youth Hostel. Night night all.

Land's End

Got the passport stamped and posed for the picture by the Land's End sign. Please note it's about 1200 miles to John O'Groats by the tracks I'm following (870 is by road!).
As the song goes 'You'll never walk alone' I not only have Sal collie dog with me but also the spirit of a very brave young man, James Neal, who's going with me all the way. And by the way James, will you stop running ahead with Sal and come back and help me carry this pack! Thinking of James does indeed make the pack lighter  - and I'd love you to make your wallet lighter by giving generously to Leukaemia and Lymphoma research www.justgiving.com/andyroberts3 or on a sponsor form. Thank you very very much to all those who have donated so far; all I've got to do is put one foot in front of the other, one mile, 1200 times.
First day was bright and sunny and reached Zenner after 16 miles of up and down coastline. I was going to camp a the Youth Hostel but they've decided not to allow camping anymore; despite my pleas they would not budge - so I camped wild on a cliff top. Sal has got used to the tent very quickly. Just managed to let Dianne know how I'm doing at lunchtime today, munching a sausage roll; Sal's whining loudly because she wants to be off!

The rucksack is packed....

On countdown - three days to start - the rucksack is packed...I wonder if it can walk by itself?
I'm ready for off and the waiting is making me nervous. So far we've raised about £4000 which is fantastic and a big thank you to everyone who's donated so far. To anyone else- please donate- every little really does help!! www.justgiving.com/andyroberts3
Thank you :o)