 The first ferry crossing of the week and Jason is almost bursting with excitement.
|
Day 1 - Plymouth - Haybrook bay
Author: Dave
Statistics:
|
A short stroll
Gorse and other stuff on a grand spring day
This was the first year we had travelled down on the same day since the very first week in 2009. Every year since, Jason has gone down a day or two early to catch up on sections of stages he had missed on the previous year. This year he was all up to date and thus we travelled down together arriving with no delays or hassle at Plymouth train station early afternoon.
It was a warm sunny day and we half were only half way down the high street in Plymouth and were already feeling the warmth. We walked down to the Barbican to restart our journey where it left off from the previous year. The decision we had to make was did we want to walk through the industrial area and over the bridge or catch the small ferry over to Mount Batten Point. We opted for the ferry and were glad we did when we saw the large petro chemical tanks along the route we would have taken. We were in no hurry though as our first B&B of the week was only a couple of hours or so away.
The ferry landed and we had a brief look around for a cafe having decided not to stop anywhere in Plymouth as we wanted to leave hustle and bustle behind as soon as possible. No cafe, so we set off and soon left behind the few closed buidlings there were around the ferry slipway. Twenty minutes later we came to the Jennycliff cafe next to path, set in a bit of parkland that over looked the sea. perfect !
We sat outside in the sun and watched a springer spaniel playing fetch with it's well trained owner. Clever mutt too - I haven't seen a dog carry two tennis balls in its mouth at once before. Refreshed with tea, coffee and a slab of carrot cake, we set off again for the destination of the day. The walking was pleasant and we soon left the urbanisation behind as we meandered along wooded cliff paths with gnarly, lichen covered trees. We weren't pushing the pace too hard but enjoying the gentle warm up on a fine early spring afternoon. Our Holiday had started in fine style.
We came out of the trees and descended down to a beach where we stopped for a photo opportunity. Even though it was a warm sunny day, it was still early enough in the year for the breeze coming in off the sea to quite chilly. So,a hat to keep the sun off and a gortex jacket to keep the wind out. It was a bit 'boil in the bag' but we've had worse starts to our week.
It was a warm sunny day and we half were only half way down the high street in Plymouth and were already feeling the warmth. We walked down to the Barbican to restart our journey where it left off from the previous year. The decision we had to make was did we want to walk through the industrial area and over the bridge or catch the small ferry over to Mount Batten Point. We opted for the ferry and were glad we did when we saw the large petro chemical tanks along the route we would have taken. We were in no hurry though as our first B&B of the week was only a couple of hours or so away.
The ferry landed and we had a brief look around for a cafe having decided not to stop anywhere in Plymouth as we wanted to leave hustle and bustle behind as soon as possible. No cafe, so we set off and soon left behind the few closed buidlings there were around the ferry slipway. Twenty minutes later we came to the Jennycliff cafe next to path, set in a bit of parkland that over looked the sea. perfect !
We sat outside in the sun and watched a springer spaniel playing fetch with it's well trained owner. Clever mutt too - I haven't seen a dog carry two tennis balls in its mouth at once before. Refreshed with tea, coffee and a slab of carrot cake, we set off again for the destination of the day. The walking was pleasant and we soon left the urbanisation behind as we meandered along wooded cliff paths with gnarly, lichen covered trees. We weren't pushing the pace too hard but enjoying the gentle warm up on a fine early spring afternoon. Our Holiday had started in fine style.
We came out of the trees and descended down to a beach where we stopped for a photo opportunity. Even though it was a warm sunny day, it was still early enough in the year for the breeze coming in off the sea to quite chilly. So,a hat to keep the sun off and a gortex jacket to keep the wind out. It was a bit 'boil in the bag' but we've had worse starts to our week.
Photo opportunity
With our pictures taken we continued on along an easy path at the top of a low cliff. Very soon we came to Haybrook Bay and came abruptly to the front gate of the B&B we were stopping at. This was one of the closest to the path we've booked - the gate actually opened onto the path. However, we decided it was a bit early to be knocking on the door so we carried on along the path thinking we would get an extra couple of miles in and then take a short cut back thus reducing some of tomorrows milage. The path followed a low headland and then our route took us along a closed lane back up over the hill to wards our B&B. Near the top of the hill was a bench and we sat down for a while in the sun and watched the world go by.....not that there was much around to go by. We set off again and quickly arrived at our destination - for thesecond time.
Although it wasn't much past 3:30pm yet, the landlady was happy to let us in a bit early. The only pub in the village didn't open until 7:00 so we had some time to kill which is not something that happens to me often. So, after we sorted out our kit, we went and sat down in the front garden overlooking the bay. I had a read of the good old Kindle and then had a bit of a doze in the sun.
Opening time arrived and we strolled up the steep lane to the Edison Inn pub in our trendy Crocs. Crocs may sound a bit of an odd thing to wear while walking a long distance footpath, but I can assure you they are only for evening wear. Having your feet sealed in a pair of boots all day while walking substantial distances, no matter how comfortable, can have a debilitating effect of over the course of several days. Crocs are light, comfortable and allow the feet to breath; and mine really need to breath ! They also weigh next to nothing so are no problem to carry and, frankly, we aren't to bothered about being trendy at the best of time - especially after a long day on the hoof. We stood out the front of the pub for a a couple of minutes on a raised patio area, looking out to sea where you could just make out the new Edison lighthouse and the stump of the old one it replaced. There was not a cloud in the sky now and it a chilly wind had picked up so we repaired to the lounge bar for dinner and a pint. A fine spag bol doused in half a bottle of tabasco for me and a plate full of stinky whitebait for Jason saw to our nutritional requirements with a couple of pints seeing to our liquid relaxant needs finished off a fine day, and one that had set the bar for our weather expecatations for the rest of the week.
Although it wasn't much past 3:30pm yet, the landlady was happy to let us in a bit early. The only pub in the village didn't open until 7:00 so we had some time to kill which is not something that happens to me often. So, after we sorted out our kit, we went and sat down in the front garden overlooking the bay. I had a read of the good old Kindle and then had a bit of a doze in the sun.
Opening time arrived and we strolled up the steep lane to the Edison Inn pub in our trendy Crocs. Crocs may sound a bit of an odd thing to wear while walking a long distance footpath, but I can assure you they are only for evening wear. Having your feet sealed in a pair of boots all day while walking substantial distances, no matter how comfortable, can have a debilitating effect of over the course of several days. Crocs are light, comfortable and allow the feet to breath; and mine really need to breath ! They also weigh next to nothing so are no problem to carry and, frankly, we aren't to bothered about being trendy at the best of time - especially after a long day on the hoof. We stood out the front of the pub for a a couple of minutes on a raised patio area, looking out to sea where you could just make out the new Edison lighthouse and the stump of the old one it replaced. There was not a cloud in the sky now and it a chilly wind had picked up so we repaired to the lounge bar for dinner and a pint. A fine spag bol doused in half a bottle of tabasco for me and a plate full of stinky whitebait for Jason saw to our nutritional requirements with a couple of pints seeing to our liquid relaxant needs finished off a fine day, and one that had set the bar for our weather expecatations for the rest of the week.
