As soon as I got out of town and climbed up to the golf course the rain set in, as forecast, making my feet wet and slippery before I'd reached the roads at Paignton.
It was hood up and head down time as I trudged along the English Riviera.
Having lost one phone to the rain I kept my replacement safely wrapped in a plastic bag in the deepest of the most waterproof pockets, not that there was much to see or worth taking a photograph of.
For some stupid reason I had an earworm of 'I do like to be beside the seaside', probably because a lot of the walk was along the prom prom prom.
The incessant rain had kept the seafront mercifully free of burger munching blimps and I was soon passing 'Corbyn's Head' and edging along the dual carriageway to Torquay where the rain eased off slightly.
Torquay Marina
The English Riviera
As if in reply to Corbyn's Head, the view out to sea was dominated by Thatcher Rock and there was Thatcher Point, Thatcher Avenue, Thatcher House and so on.
At Anstey Cove I saw another Peregrine falcon - two in two days!
After Oddicombe beach I climbed the steps alongside the cliff railway and went into Babbacombe to get supplies.
Oddicombe Cliff Railway
Decided that Babbacombe sounds like it could be a sub genre of reggae and spent a few miles making up names of acts like Anstey and the Coves.
It started lashing rain again when I got to Watcombe Woods and my feet were sloshing around on the muddy path.
The woods were thick and the rain was heavy.
A deer looked very startled to see me come around the corner and almost bump into him.
Startled me too.
Then I saw another one, or maybe the same one again, and further on, as I was looking at the map, a fox walked right past me.
But the animal theme took a bad turn when a large dog came bounding up and sank it's paw in where it hurts most.
I could hear the owners calling but couldn't see them, probably just as well for them.
No point in me shouting out to them as it would've been a high pitched squeak.
I always kept a walking pole at the ready whenever I was in dog walking territory after that.
The pub at Maidencombe looked very inviting but I pressed on into open, rolling farmland.
Had to use the cow whispering technique to get to the gate in the corner
Missed the turn for the campsite at Shaldon and soon arrived at the ferry.
Ferry to Teignmouth under a leaden sky
I was soaked through and freezing cold so I asked the ferryman where I might find a b&b.
No use going to the Bay Hotel came the reply cos it burned down last night.
Every b&b I tried was full and the owner explained that they were full because the Bay Hotel had burned down last night.
Went into the New Quay Inn to ask around and watched some tennis whilst warming up by the fire.
Yes, they had the fire alight in July.
Had to walk out of town to find a hotel room and sink into a hot bath.
Too late for the restaurant.
Kitchen closed at 8.30 !
No comments:
Post a Comment