TraceysTrek

See my whole journey and donate at TraceysTrek.uk

Best bits: hot shower

Worst bits: reduced visibility

Distance: 18.8 miles

Heavy rain poured down last night bouncing off Priscilla’s roof. Later in the evening there was a flurry of noisy activity as Saturday nightlife must have come to an end. I felt like I was on a spit turning over and over in bed. Also a couple of times it felt like Bev was wrestling causing Priscilla to shake.

Bev was up and out early and brought me a cuppa in bed at 6:45 am! I was bleary eyed as I drank it. The weather forecast was bleak. Heavy rain all morning! but improving late afternoon. Decision made for a late start.

As the rain continued to fall I looked for potential diversions on my route as I was concerned about the state of the clifftop path. Fortunately there is a national cycle route running in the same direction so that was an option.

As we were driving back to Carnoustie the weather deteriorated! However, it was dry when I set off on the Angus Coastal Path. Bev joined me for the first couple of hundred metres before turning back.

Just when I think my foot is getting better, it sends me a curveball and this morning it was very painful when I started out. I’ve completely altered my gait pattern and I’m very aware of it. It settled down to a tolerable level after about a mile.

As I was standing at a crossroads looking at my map, a local lady came by and I asked her which direction I should go in. She told me to take the cycle route because the other paths were flooded.

The cycle route was great as it was a combination of cinder and paved paths running alongside the railway and the coastline.

It’s easy to forget that it’s July because it looks more like October with completely cloudy skies and high humidity. This makes walking a sticky experience particularly in the salty air.

After about 5 miles I was back where we stayed last night. I can tell that Bev, fresh air freak, is with me this week as all of Priscilla’s windows were open! It was an early lunch, cheese and pickle sandwich and a cuppa.

The temperature rose and the sun was trying hard to get out. The harbour at Arbroath was full of small boats and as the tide was in a larger yacht was leaving harbour.

Arbroath is famous for its sea food and there were many eateries. I was feeling peckish so bought a bar of chocolate and ate half of it immediately!!

The esplanade soon changed to a path up to the cliffs. It was initially concrete and then cinder. Despite huge signs saying ‘danger unstable cliffs’, there were loads of men fishing right on the edge by the sea with the waves splashing up the rocks around them. It looked precarious. They must’ve climbed down the cliffs to get there.

The humidity and the temperature increased and a sea frett started to come in reducing visibility significantly. I thought that this stack resembled a head looking out to sea. It’s a shame the mist was down this afternoon as I think the cliffs would’ve been quite spectacular.

Unstable cliffs meant dropping down onto the beach where I met four guys out for the day celebrating a birthday. The birthday boy was running up the steps as I was coming down and so I cheered him on.

The beach comprised large pebbles that were quite difficult to walk on. Then to get back up to the top of the cliffs I had to walk through bracken which was as tall as myself and then up some steep steps. When I got to the top of the cliff the heat radiating from the ground hit me.

Bev and I had arranged to meet at the small village of Auchmithie for my second tea break.

Setting off again involved walking on a wide track between fields of golden barley and potatoes. Then I was on the path much less trodden! Which required some concentration.

The last section involved walking on the beach which was weird as looking out to the edge of the shore was clear with white horses on the waves yet just ahead of me the beach was very misty and it was difficult to make out how long the beach was. If I had been in a car I would have had my fog lamps on. The beach in places was full of small jellyfish no bigger than saucers.

There were quite a few dead birds along the beach and then I was sad to see this little puffin. I was even more sad when it moved its little head and looked at me. I couldn’t do anything for it, poor thing. I was as helpless as it was and it made me cry. I just had to leave it to the forces of nature.

I dragged my feet the rest of the way to the campsite Bev had booked us on. She was waiting for me in the cafe with a cuppa. I told her about the little Puffin and the look it gave me.

We sat for a while and then went back to Priscilla and chatted about Angela. I am still finding the most difficult bit to come to terms with was how the brain tumour subtly changed Angela’s personality over such a long period of time.

I was tired and so after this I had a lovely long warm shower at the campsite before we had dinner.

We were in bed before all the children on the site! We waited until later at what we thought was a respectable time to close the blinds!

The second toe on my left foot has been quite angry and inflamed looking for the past few days. I managed to burst a deep blister on it this morning but it’s still been very sore even with its silicon condom on to protect it. If it’s not one thing it’s another! My toes do take a battering!