Day 4

August 12^th Depart Ilfracombe

Arrive Braunton Accommodation: The Silver Cottage

Distance 29 KM | Cumulative Distance: 94.03 KM | Grade – Moderate

Ascent 3,268 FT | Cumulative Ascent: 14,668 FT

Google Map Braunton

After yet another poor sleep, this time due to the size of the bed, I was up by 6 am as I wanted to try and get caught up on my blog. You have no idea how frustrating it is trying to get the technology to wrk in some of these places.

After breakfast, which was served at 8 am I was out of the door by 8-40 am, and was faced with about a miles walk to find the trail close to the town centre. Once I had located the path I was on my way, and unlike yesterday was going to be on my own, which was fine, as, after the first couple of days, I was now seeing lots of people. I was soon in familiar territory of ups and downs, and at the bottom of some steps, before going through a gate and up another climb I came across a delightful elderly couple, who had just put on their rain gear and stopped briefly to wish them well. They must have been in their late 70's or early 80's, so I think power to them. I shared a little story about every day I've been humming or whistling Winter Wonderland, and said there was something deep going on there. I then said every day is like Christmas being out in the hills and how could you not be happy. Then I was past them on on my way. I then passed a young women who was running the hills in spandex running pants and a running singlet, and we each said hello as we passed and 30 minutes later I reached the lighthouse at Bully Point I think it was called, and the area is treacherous because of the vertical granite rock that comes up from the ocean floor. Soon after passing the lighthouse the young runner came back and stopped to walk with me and ask where I was going, what I was doing, and she was fascinated by the walking out of poverty initiative and was going to research O.i. It turns out the young lady is also engaged in fund raising and ran 13 marathons last year which is very respectable.

The trail was very pleasant with lots of undulations, and soon I was on the way up and around Baggy Point and the long walk down into Croyde Bay where I decided to have a well earned rest and lunch, right by a path that ran in front of the hotel. It was the perfect spot as I was trying to get out of the wind, but not good as people kept coming by.all. All of a sudden who should come by but Silvio, the young German who I had met briefly the day before. I told him I was going to find a coffee and asked if I could buy him one, which he gratefully accepted. After getting the coffee I wanted to get on as there was a lot of miles to go, and Silvio was stopping for a lunch break. I started out and found the path through the dunes, which was very tiring, as sand is not the easiest surface to walk on.

After a while who should catch me but Silvio and we decided to walk the rest of the day together, which as it turned out was the best decision either of us has made to date, but more on that later.

The exit from the beach was onto a road, which we had to cross, to access the path which then led us round to Saunton Sands, where we dropped down and followed the road a ways before getting into more dunes which soon gave way to a path that took us past the Saunton GC, it was at this point that the trail became extremely difficult. If yesterday's walk was epic for it's many climbs. Today's was the same because of the length, as I was going another 4-5 miles further. Eventually, after what seemed an eternity, we left the maze through what was the Braunton Burrows nature reserve and found the track that ran alongside the Taw and Torridge rivers and started the long, long trek into Braunton. The end goal seemed impossible to reach as every step forward looked and felt like we were taking 2 steps back. This is the price you pay when trying to cram in extra miles, and something I was prepared for. Finally we reached Braunton and now I fished out my directions to the B and B which Matthew, my landlord, had emailed me a couple of weeks ago. I said goodbye to Silvio who was going to look for a campsite, although he advised he would loveto stay in a B and B due to the late hour, but didn't think he would find one at the late hour, we then stopped at a store as I wanted to buy a couple of chocolate bars for Landlord and Landlady's 2 young children, and then called ahead to see if they could pick me up as I felt totally lost, Sophie my Landlady answered, and at the sound of her incredibly warm greetings the whole sense that Silvio and I were feeling was lifted. I asked Sophie if she knew of anywhere in town who might have a vacancy sonSilvio could get a bed and shower. Sophie advised she could take Silvio in if I was prepared to share my bathroom which was a no brainer. We had certainly "bonded" that afternoon and the fact we each had company spurred us on. We actually walked 15 1/2 miles in 3 hours, which considering the trail was no mean feat!!

A few minutes later Sophie arrived and ran us to her cottage. We were so thankful as there's no way we would have found as we were running on adrenalin at this point. The walking is spectacular but very tiring because of the ambitious mileage.

Upon arrival Sophie took charge and showed us to our rooms, and asked if we would like a bowl of soup and some crusty bread, which we were so grateful for, as I'm not sure either Silvio or I had the energy to shower, change and then go out for dinner. Sophie then said she could also do our laundry which was unbelievably kind of her. I showered, changed, and came down with my laundry and had a really nice visit with Sophie and Matthew while Silvo showered. Turns out Sophie and Matt had been to Canada a few years ago, prior to having children and skied in Banff at Sunshine Village, which they absolutely loved.

Sophie then got our soup, which was Coriander, and it was delicious, as was the various breads, and Silvio and I felt truly blessed at the incredibly warm and generous welcome from Sophie and Matt.

One last pice of info before I post the photos. It turns out my bedroom was the same one that Sophie had as a child, as she had taken over the house from her mother who now lives down the road.