The Walk

After an ok sleep last night (only woke up three times) I put on my walking clothes – less boots – and popped down for breakfast, which consisted of a bowl of chopped fruit (thought I’d better try and have something healthy) and a full fry up with a round of toast

Last night I had a bit of a think about things I desperately needed in my pack and maybe some things I could probably do without. This was tough as high up on the list of items to lighten the load was my netbook.

I slept as good as ever last night, i.e. not very, but I woke up feeling pretty good with not too many aches and pains; a good sign maybe? Breakfast was a feast of local line caught pollock which was delicious.

Firstly, before I forget in my completely knackered state, I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me since I started this crazy walk, and all of you who sponsored me before I left. It really is appreciated and to finally break the £1000 mark, well, it inspires me to walk on and on – thank you!

Even though I was absolutely exhausted last night I struggled to get off to sleep before midnight. I suspect the length of today’s route was playing on my mind a bit seeing as it was over 18 miles without having to make up the extra bit from yesterday.

I didn’t sleep very well again last night and not for want of trying either. Last night, after sorting myself out, I relaxed for a bit and phoned the girls, put my boots back on (ouch!) and hobbled back down to the St. Mabyn Inn for a couple of pints and some dinner.

You’d have thought that not having to worry about a long day’s walk or having to get up early I’d have had a good night’s sleep last night wouldn’t you? Nothing could be further from the truth.

After the rather splendid, if not rather huge, cod and chips on my first evening in Launceston last night I decided that, as there wasn’t a great deal else food-wise going on in the place, I’d head back to Launceston Fryers and have another plate of fish and chips.

Before I start I think I’d better just warn Sarah that if she’s reading this out to the girls, she may well need to skip or paraphrase this first part of today’s posting.
So, the complete twats from last night didn’t get any better.

You would have thought that being so tired after not much sleep the night before I would have just dropped off straight away last night wouldn’t you? Nope, not at all. I ended up sitting all the way through Top Gun on telly – rather bad reception and it was pretty much the best channel out of the limited selection available – and then put my iPod on and listened to an entire album before taking that off and desperately trying to sleep.

The Taw Vale B & B was a lovely place, set in a grandiose building with nice high ceilings and a lot of the original features still in place, including the bell rings in the rooms. I never tried them though. Once I’d had a bit of a rest and phoned the girls I thought I’d better catch up with a bit of washing up and it was then that I realised that I’d left the antibacterial soap I’d been using to wash my clothes in two stops back…doh!

I struggled again to get off to sleep last night, even though I was completely and utterly exhausted by the time I’d reached the Best Western hotel in Tiverton. What will it take for me to actually fall asleep at a reasonable hour without too much bloody effort?! Trying to get out of bed I was a little alarmed to find that my feet still hurt from the previous day’s efforts…not good. As I pottered about my room sorting my stuff out fortunately they seemed to comeback to life which pleased me no end. I still had the job of putting on the plasters and taping them up to get them ready for the boots but for now I was just happy that they wanted to move!