Day 11

August 19^th Depart Tintagel

Arrive Port Isaac Accommodation: Penderris House B&B

Distance 14.6 KM | Cumulative Distance: 240.23 KM | Grade – Severe

Ascent 2,740 FT | Cumulative Ascent: 33,881 FT

Awoke at 6 - 10 am after a blissful sleep but decided to stay in bed for a while and dozed on and off. Finally at 7 o'clock I decided to shower and get my bag packed. The house I was staying in dated back to 1586, and is actually 5 cottages that have been joined together. There was also an addition to the back of the property which was built back in the 50's, and it was impossible to access the Wi-Fi due to the thickness of the walls which were 18 inches thick!

After breakfast I left by 8 - 40 am and took a quick picture of my accommodation and on the way down to Tintagel Castle I took a picture of the Old Post Office and the building is over 600 years old and was originally owned by a Yeoman. After the picture was taken I put the camera away and 10 minutes later was pulling it out again to take some photos of Camelot. The track led up, away from the castle and the 1st hours walking was very enjoyable. For the first time the weather looked like it might co-operate and the sun was shining and the breeze was very light. The first hour passed very quickly, although the camera was busy getting a work out, and I think I took more pictures today than any other day. The views were spectacular!

I now was faced with my first steep descent of the day, as I scrambled down to Trebarwith Strand, where there were facilities, toilets and a pub, so I made a quick bathroom break, crossed the narrow road and was faced with my first major climb of the day. The climb was heart pumping, and I thought the path might be flat for a while but before I knew it I had another steep drop to Backways Cove, where I stopped ever so briefly to chat with a family of four, who were staying at Trebarwith but had decided to walk to Port Isaac, as they had tried to park there yesterday, without any luck, and thought they might have more luck of seeing everything if they walked. I stepped past them and started my steep climb to the top. It was cruel having two huge climbs back to back, but you just take it one step at a time and eventually you are at the top. The family of 4 had got ahead of me, as I had stopped to take a couple of photographs, and I walked past them and found the perfect lunch spot, in the grass with my back to a gate. Lunch was turkey on whole wheat bread, a banana, and a snickers bar for the energy. The family of four had passed me again, but had stopped about a half mile past me and were sat in a great little spot having lunch when I passed them again. Shortly ahead was another steep descent and ascent to Tregardock Cliff. I was having déjà vu thinking I had inadvertently joined the Hartland Quay to Bude section of the trail again!!

At the top of these cliffs another steep section almost was on me, as I now had to descent into Jackets Point which was the steepest and deepest point to date. After another two equally impressive descents and climbs the trail finally levelled out and I was back on top and the trail was now finally free of anymore "hilly bits".

I looked off to my right and saw a black cloud forming, which was very threatening, and upon turning to look back, from whence I came, the story was even bleaker, and a storm was being dumped on Tintagel. I now hurried my pace as I did not want to get caught, as I'd had a lovely day which was most enjoyable.

I arrived into Port Gaverne, found the signpost to Port Isaac, and was pleased to see it was only half a mile to go albeit on Tarmac. The last 1/4 mile was a steep uphill climb, but the adrenalin was now really flowing, as I was like the proverbial horse heading back to the barn, and I fairly clipped along into my destination.

I have a routine that I do at the end of every walk, which is find a wall I can stretch my hamstrings on, which I promptly did, and then went to find my B&B, which was block up from where I did my stretches, and I duly arrived at around 2 - 00 pm.

My landlady, Nancy, showed me to my room and I quickly unpacked and ran a bath for a well deserved soak.

Nancy very kindly agreed to wash my clothes and said instead of me paying her, would I make a contribution to her charity, which I was more than happy to do, as the money is to be used to build a Children's Home in Nepal. The charity is called The Dolma Development Fund and over 30 disabled children are in need of a new home after the recent closure of their previous home. The previous home had no qualified careers, medical treatment, and few windows to protect the children from the glacial winds. I was more than happy to help in my own little way and wish Nancy all the best in her project.

Picture time !!!