Day 131: Lizard to Porthallow

Best bits: shower and hot tub

Worst bits: sore heel and mud

Distance: 16.2 miles

It was overcast and a bit colder than the last few days so I put an extra layer on before I set off but at least it’s dry. Bridget took me back down to the Lizard and I enjoyed a proper look at the Lighthouse today.

Yesterday I was feeling a bit off colour, a bit queasy, and at one point I thought I was going to vomit. Anyway, I seem to have managed to survive the day. I’m feeling much better today.

Later on I passed the Lloyds signal station which was opened in 1872 for shore to ship communications. It’s now a holiday let!

There were quite a few cows loose on the fields and one was standing right next to the coastal path, but it didn’t really seem to take much interest in me even though I walked right past it.

As I came past the Lifeboat station, I must’ve missed the coastal path but it was a lucky accident as I ended up walking through the quaint little hamlet with some beautiful thatched cottages.

I spent most of the morning talking to Angela about what I was doing. Then I was wondering how she must’ve felt losing herself when the brain tumour started to take affect on her personality. I wonder if she was aware of it but couldn’t articulate it. She was so stubborn like me and so it was difficult for both of us.

I was quite tearful as I walked along in a bit of a trance remembering all the subtle changes in her behaviour and our relationship. I’m missing her so much it still hurts.

I met Jim, Deb and their dog Lula and we had a good chat about what I’m doing and they kindly offered me support when I get near to them.

Bridget and I had arranged to meet at Kennack Sands in the café for lunch. However, when I arrived, everything was locked up. Bridget arrived a few minutes later. Fortunately it wasn’t very far from the caravan and so she drove us back and we had lunch in there. I then walked down the woodland track back to the beach to rejoin the path.

I left poor Bridget tidying up and doing my laundry. At least she was in luxury today.

What a cute little coastal village Cadgwith is. It’s full of cottages with thatched roves and the air is filled with the smell of crabs and seafood. It’s an active little fishing cove.

I’m was so busy looking at other things that I missed the devil’s frying pan!

As I met Bridget coming towards me just outside of Coverack, I also met Paul and Mark, who were doing the West South West Coast path in stages.

Bridget and I took the less strenuous path back to Coverack which passed through the Terrance Coventry sculpture park.

We stopped for a cuppa at the loft café in Coverack and we’re served by the lovely Leah. Then it was on again for the final push two hours. The tide was in and the waves were crushing up over the sea defences.

I walked across Low Point and it was extremely boggy so my boots got quite wet. That went on for a couple of miles around the coast. Then I passed the disused quarry. There was a guy fishing on an abandoned pier and the waves were crashing up behind him and there was no form of railings or anything so I hope his catch was worth it.

The last couple of miles seem to take forever walking on farm tracks, roads and woodland paths. II passed fields of daffodils which are obviously the cash crop here with the deaths in different stages of development maturity.

My heel didn’t like the last bit of road walking down a steep hill and it was screaming at me to stop.

My left shoulder is still sore from the fall at Tintagel. I lie on that side in bed and sometimes I wake up with pain in the night and a numb arm. Today I tried to heave myself up through a fence and realised that it sends a sharp pain down my arm and it’s very weak. More things to attend to!

The last few days have been quite significant. Firstly Lands End the most westerly point of Britain, then Lizard point the most southerly point of Britain and today Porthallow which marks the halfway point of the South West coastal path.