Day 40 Babbacombe to Exmouth (23.2 km /14.4 miles )

 Day 40    Babbacombe to Exmouth     (23.2 km /14.4 miles )

This was a day !  A mix of two different challenges, the combination of which I feel my legs paid a price for.   They had to adjust to different asks from me , which they did bless them, but I think they are cross with me for it.  

It would not have been the challenge that it was without a timing factor to navigate.   Yep . The F word again.     A two ferry crossing day with the cut off time of the second ferry meaning the day looked the way it did.  It turned out to be a 26.5 km day with elevation of 2400ft.   And this needed to be done by last ferry across to Exmouth ….4.10pm.   I needed to shift.  Not many pictures taken from about 1pm onwards.   

As luck would have it the room breakie at the Buccannnneeerrrr Inn was ideal.  I wanted a start time that would give me best chance.     I was out the door early.    The first part I also wanted to do before the heat kicked in.   In a day cut almost exactly in two halves the first 13 km are a series of rugged, deeply wooded coastal ravines.  The massive elevation gains of this day all happen in the first 13km.  This area is part of a nature reserve purchased to help protect a rare bird to Sth Devon , the cirl bunting.  I’m afraid that up those climbs my grunting has scared off the bunting.   I did say out loud “sorry cirl bunting for disturbing your peace” .  I didn’t want a rare bird to leave because of me but there was no way I moved through there like a stealth bird watcher should.   

The roller coaster up, down and up along this long stretch of the trail is unique in that it never goes flat for more than 10 strides.   So it was just steep up followed by a quick 30 seconds of flat ,where you walk like you’ve had 5 pints,  and before your legs can readjust it plunges you down again.   Then it repeats that again.    Finally, it just abruptly ends and tosses you out on a road.  I felt exactly how I used to feel when I’d been dumped by waves as a kid and didn’t  know which way was up or down until getting tossed out on the sand.   In the same manner I just readjusted myself and shook off ready for part 2.  

The path leads  more gently then towards Shaldon to walk down onto the beach and stand and wait for a very quaint ferry to cross over to Teignmouth.  First ferry down and it’s about 1pm .  3 hours to do 13 km – I could do it but needed to find a quick sandwich.   A scuttled into a Teignmouth cafe and ordered a quick ham and tomato toastie.   There is nothing quick about a ham and tomato toastie.   What a fool.   It takes at least 15 minutes for scalding hot toastie tomato to cool to an edible temperatue range.    I did not have the 15 minutes it demanded and  I just had to go for it.   The rest of the day should of been spent in the burns unit to be fair but not today , no time for injury – I just had to go but I left the roof of my mouth in Teignmouth. 

So off I went , clock ticking and at speed.    The time went very fast , as it does when you don’t want it to, it was a long stretch on tarmac.   I walked a lot faster than I normally would for 3 hours which took its toll on my legs and after this morning I could understand their grumblings.   By then tme I hit Starcross where my second ferry of the day departed I l had made it with 20 minutes to spare.    I was a happy hiker to see that boat pull up.   I was  looking forward to landing in Exmouth and putting my legs up with a cup of tea.   Feeling in my mouth had returned post tomato debacle and I was looking forward to a shower and dinner.  

It was only a six minute walk to my room for the night and I walked it slowly – not that I had a choice , I had seized up on the ferry crossing.   My ferry dismount would not have scored highly if a panel of judges had been watching.    

Dinner in a beach front pub with the sun going down over Exmouth sands  rounded out another unique , challanging and varied day.  This walk keeps you on your toes.  

Night night from Exmouth xxx

Cliffs start turning red

Woods and walking

The sunlight hitting these leaves….they glowed!

I love this walk!!

It’s hard to capture steep but it is

First ferry to Teignmouth

Yes!    Second ferry to Exmouth.