Today was going to be flat and a lot of it was along a former railway track which is now tarmac. It was about a mile shorter than yesterday at 12.5 miles.
I walked through dog walking country for the first mile or so, stopping to chat to a couple of people. The tide was out which meant I could take the “low tide” route and I walked under the road bridge feeling very small
The road follows the River Taw into Bideford to cross the river at Bideford Long Bridge (not imaginative but apt as names go)
After that, I followed the Tarka trail all the way to Barnstaple. I was very tired, so found it hard work despite being very flat (the trail, although I was feeling a bit flat myself). I decided to stop at a cafe in Instow for lunch.
When I saw they had Devon pasty on the menu I felt that I had to think of you, my readers, and so, selflessly, I chose the steak pasty. Pastry good, crimping very good but I always thought Devon pasties had crimping in the centre. Filling, not bad. Not enough to elevate it to the likes of McFadden/Chough/Philps but fine. The salads were good too although I’m not keen on coleslaw, it has to be said. I also had a decaf iced latte to wash it down with, and left the cafe, and Instow, in a much better frame of mind.
The rest of the day was a bit of a slog but I slogged away along the TT which was busy with cyclists of all ages (admittedly the younger ones were on bike seats or in trailers) enjoying the afternoon sun.
Tomorrow is a rest day and I am now comfortably ensconced in a small apartment in suburban Barnstaple looking forward to resting.
Rose's LEJOG 