Day 32 Bawdrip - Splott farm

After Emma dropped us off back on the trail a series of minor roads were followed. As with the day before cows were a problem and we had to do a long detour at one point. Once it started to rain we opted to go to the nearest campsite but this meant a lengthy road walk. Then a local farmer stopped and after a chat suggested we use his farm track to get to the site-another kind person just when we needed help! Even better, as we passed the farm he came out and offered a cup of tea so we met his family. Didn't get your name but if you read this- many thanks!

Day 31 Huntstile - Bawdrip

Onto the Somerset Levels and heading for Bridgwater after our stay at Huntstile.
Some of the stiles have been difficult- the picture shows a collapsed bridge we had to get over!
Found Morrisons and met up with Sheila's niece Emma, her husband Richard and daughter Grace. They kindly offered to put us up after we finished the days walk and took our bags so we travelled light; Barney (and us!) was very pleased!
Cows are now a problem-we had to re route rapidly at one point!
After Richard and Grace picked us up we were taken on a tour of the levels around their village - the whole area was affected by the floods and we saw the bridge which featured on the tv reports.
Another lovely evening - we're being spoiled!

Day 30 Monksilver -Huntstile

Quantocks day.
First a crossing of the West Somerset railway and a steam train! Then up onto the ridge with ponies and trig points!
Late afternoon and the weather changed with our first day time rain for weeks. Very wet and some very difficult stiles to negotiate.
Arriving at Enmore we tried the pub but weren't even allowed in with the dog! A phone call to Huntstile Organic Farm to confirm camping and they offered to pick us up! Soon drying out and then the offer of a meal which was gladly accepted. Lizzie and John then gave us a room donated to Barney's mission - very generous and many thanks! The house and the room could take pages to describe - take a look at www.huntstileorganicfarm.co.uk to see why we were blown away by both the place and the people!
If you're ever in this part of the country, do visit-it's not to be missed!

Day 29 extra

Forgot to say in last post about the map. Jos carries the days printed map pages in a plastic case. Unfortunately her trouser pockets are not very deep and it has fallen out several times! (Women's outdoor trousers have useless pockets).Up to now I have been behind and picked it up but not this time; we soon realised it was missing. However, a while later a knock at the door and the landlord presented it to us! A local person had found it on the path and seeing the pub telephone number delivered it! Many thanks!

Day 29 update

I felt I must post an addendum to todays post.
We have just had a lovely meal in the Notley Arms Inn at Monksilver and after talking to the local people at the next table were given 40 pounds for Barney's collection - thanks! We've been amazed at the generosity of people we have met on the walk - thanks to all who have donated so far.
Have also just had contact with Kay & Nigel who saw us off from Land's End nearly a month ago.  Kay told us just how important her guide dog is to her and how her life was transformed by the help her dog gives. Every donation helps people like Kay; every donation is appreciated.

Day 29 Luxborough - Monksilver

Back to it!
First, our thanks to Penny & Tim for helping us out over the last week.  We had a wonderful time with them in Charmouth while our wounds healed and we were able to get stuff posted to us easily. This morning they took us back to Luxborough where they had picked us up nearly a week ago.
Today's walk has brought us to the edge of Exmoor at Monksilver - a good country walk.
We're staying at the pub tonight so it's time for a shower before food.

Barmey wants a drink

Thanks to Penny for this picture of Barney wanting water after eating!

A day in the life of...

Barney on the trail!

 Barney's day starts when he gets up from lazing at the bottom of the tent - he sleeps at our feet, mostly on Jos's side where he has more room.

His breakfast is dished up and soon consumed, then it's back to bed while we have ours. Packing up follows and eventually he has to leave the tent - it's being taken down!

The sight of the harness / panniers causes him to move some distance away - he doesn't much like it being fitted first thing even though it may be empty! A few minutes later however and he's forgotten it exists.

From first awakening to leaving camp  normally takes us about 2 hours - we're not fast!

The morning proceeds and depending on the terrain, one or more stops may be taken before we have a longer break to eat lunch which Jos got together earlier. If the site is right, she may be painting as well as eating and Barney would be asleep!

Similar for the afternoon until it's time to stop. When wild camping we aim to look for a place to pitch the tent by about 6pm & Barney knows we're finished for the day! When heading for a campsite it may be later. The tent is put up and Barney is more than ready for his evening food - after gulping it down he is looking to get into the tent and snooze! An hour or so later and he is up for a drink & a quick wee before settling down for the night - 8:30 probably sees him fast asleep!
7pm and any passers by might hear the sound of the Archers from the tent while water is being boiled to make a cup of tea! I get our meal ready - normally a 3 course affair consisting of soup (cup-a-), main course (dehydrated packet meal) and sweet (cake with instant custard).
By about 9 or 9:30 we're probably also ready for bed - Jos is busy catching up in her diary, I could be updating the blog if we have internet access. We are both carrying Kindles and are reading if we can stay awake!

Throughout the day we see people on the trail - Barney brings a smile to almost everybody's face when they seem him carrying his load! Visiting cards get handed out, photographs taken and Barney just stands and waits - he's used to it! We are now making a habit of noting down the comments made when people first see Barney carrying his load - most we have heard before but we do occasionally get original ones!

Route finding includes Jos with the pre-printed OS maps for the day ahead & me with the mapping GPS & guide book descriptions to avoid us getting lost.

If we pass a shop en route, we stop for goodies, also pubs / cafes for soft drinks or coffee but these are all few and far between on the route we are taking.

That's about it - a simple life!

Sunny Dorset

Recent posts have been from my (Bob) phone and normally include a picture or two and a few comments. Today I thought it better to give some more text descriptions as I am using a laptop and I appreciate that not all that are following the blog can see the pictures.
A few days off to allow blisters (and other foot problems - I'll leave out the details!) to heal in sunny Dorset. Staying at Charmouth with Penny & Tim - old friends from when we all lived at Settlingstones. Jos knows Charmouth from childhood summer holidays and I know just along the coast at West Bay so it's revisiting old haunts time!
We are being treated regally by our hosts who picked us up from Luxborough and will take us back to rejoin the trail even though they are on the way up to Northumberland shortly! They are actually staying in a holiday home only about 2 miles from where we live!
We have arranged for other boots to be shipped down from home and have ordered lighter socks which should be more suitable for the Mediterranean like conditions we seem to be walking in! No doubt it will all change as soon as we set off! Also, ordered some Gewhol foot cream to help with any foot problems we may have in the future. We carry Mushers cream for Barney's feet which Jos applies routinely each morning but had nothing ourselves!
We have been amazed at the response we are getting as we progress! Many thanks to all the people we have met along with the ones following us from a distance. We really appreciate the support and messages and look forward to seeing updates at the end of the day!

On hold

We are taking a few days off in order tomorrow give our (Bob & Jos) blisters a better chance of healing. Continued walking is slowly making matters worse and we are getting slower.
Barney's feet are holding up fine. Jos applies Mushers cream daily wbich is keeping his pads soft - perhaps that's what we need!
Our old friends Penny & Tim have kindly offered to pick us up Saturday so we can spend some time with them in Dorset. We'll be back on the route as soon as we can.
Up to now, Barney has walked 238 miles and collected over 1000 pounds for Guide Dogs but is always happy to accept more donations at www.JustGiving.com/BarneysLongWalk
Stay tuned!

Day 22 Exford to Luxborough

Dunkery Beacon smiy & Barney gets his share of the jelly babies! A habit we got into whilst doing Munros in Scotland.  Ok,  Dunkery Beacon isn't quite 3000ft but Barney knows it's the top!
Next was pleasant woodland walking & oh, nearly forgot, we're in Somerset!
Made our way slowly to Luxborough & a room in the pub - wonderful!
One of the pictures shows me (Bob) carrying Barneys pack -  he gets help sometimes.

Day 21 Pinkery Pond to Exford

Camped in a field above Exford. Great trouble finding water today although we're not far from the river Ex.
We're making slow and sometimes painful progress across Exmoor.

Day 20 Barnstaple to Pinkery Pond

Our (Jos& Bob) feet are put to the test!
Lovely woodland walk followed by steady uphill to get onto Exmoor. Another very hot day with full sunshine. Pic shows Barney crossing the packhorse bridge at Challacombe and our eventual campsite at Pinkery Pond on the moor.

Day 19 - Recovery day

It's ironic that after all the ups and downs of the coast path (and there were many of them), we find the completely flat section the hardest! Barney is appreciating another rest however.

The picture is the view from the tent looking down onto Barnstaple.  It was a hard climb to get up here at the end of yesterday, Jos listened to the Archers on our tiny radio on the way up the steep part!

Day 18 Bideford - Barnstaple

Tbe last day of section 1 of the walk, more accurately titled Before Bideford to after Barnstaple.
After the very last mile of coast to Westward Ho! we turned inland! Done it at last - including Westward Ho! in the line means it has 2 exclamation marks! (done it again!) I believe Westward Ho! is the only place name in the Uk to include one but no doubt somebody will tell me that's wrong!
Andy Robinson's short cut to Bideford was easy to follow and we were soon having coffee in a bistro. Then came the old railway line to Barnstaple - 9 miles of tarmac in the heat. We all found it uncomfortable and when Barney started to slow I went on ahead to make sure I got to Barnstaple before the shops shut. Mistake!  I started to sense the reoccurrence of a blister on the ball of one foot but Jos had th Compeeds.
By the time we got to the campsite in the evening we both had multiple blisters - we all hate road walking!
As I also developed an ankle problem we have decided to take another rest day here and recover. Barney is happy about that!

Our Posts (or lack of them)

I thought I should post a few notes about our posts!
If you don't see anything for a few days it's not because we've got a problem! We need 2 things to post from my phone - a connection (phone or wifi) & some power remaing in the phone battery. Quite often we no connection.
One difficulty we have is keeping the phones charged. Often we go 3 or 4 days between recharges, so you get a flurry of posts as we try to catch up before going to bed!
We have a fuel cell usb charger with us but it only worked once before packing in.
I have found I can get a days entry in whilst Jos is painting however when we have a phone signal.
It's 9pm so time for bed (Barney's been asleep for ages). Night night!

Day 17 Rest day

A day off! Barney has slept all day, Bob has been reading a book & Jos has produced 12 paintings down at the shore.
The pics show our home with Barney sitting up & a selection of todays artwork.
This our last night at the coast, tomorrow we head inland to Exmoor.
Note: please feel free to comment directly on blog posts - we're never quite sure anybody's reading this stuff!

Day 16 Clovelly -Bideford

A fine start to the day with a full English breakfast!  Then a pleasant woodland walk following the coast for a few miles. More ups and downs (they always come together! ) to reach a lovely little campsite at Greencliff Farm, west of Bideford.
The site owners son kindly did some shopping for us so we are staying 2 nights to have a rest day.

Day 15 Hartland Quay - Clovelly

A switchback start took us to 'the turn' & we started walking east rather than north.

Flat coat owners Grace & Izzie were without their dog so Barney got lots of attention! 
A steadier walk then eventually led to Clovelly where we met up with Neil from Guide Dogs for a publicity shoot. Then we found the Red Lion Hotel on the quayside had a dog friendly room so we took it! What a room, old and overlooking the harbour - very special. A good meal, live music & we did all our washing!

Day 14 Bude - Hartland Quay

A hard day! The SWCP (South West Coast Path) isn't easy - this day had ascent the same as Ben Nevis & it was too hot!
On one climb, Barney stepped over an adder - luckily unhurt.
Arrived exhausted but no dogs in the hotel which meant a steep walk up to the campsite. However, kind people gave us a lift - thanks! We' re hoping to meet up for a pint when we get to Monmouth.
Also, we left Cornwall & entered Devon!

Day 13 Crackingto Haven - Bude

Hard walking at first then a real holidy beach!
Restocking at Sainsburys as we have anothe hard section to come...

Day 12 Tintagel - Crackington Haven

Hard day which included the highest cliff in Cornwall called... High Cliff! Met up with a walking party from Milton Keynes - Hi all!
Boscastle stop for an ice cream - very touristy!
We were going to wild camp but the kind owner of the cabin cafe offered us the use of her garden - thanks a lot! That meant we had a pub, meal & wifi.

Day 11 Wild camp to Tintagel

The coast is superb and now the wind has dropped and the sun is shining! This however makes for hard work as the coast path is as hard as all the guide books say with continous ups and downs. A days walking easily matches a mountain day out. Tent finally up on a plush site.

Day 10 Wadebridge to wild camp after Port Isaac

Keith dropped us off back at Wadebridge and we made our way back to the coast at Port Isaac. Just had to have a Cornish cream tea! Then onto a wild camp on the coast path and wonderful views.

Day 9 Rest day

A great day off! Cousin Keith and his wife Margaret gave us 5 star treatment with the added surprise of cousin Monica also turning up!

Day 8 Portcothan - Wadebridge

A day of strong winds along the coast and then wind & drizzle as we mad our way along the Camel Trail from Padstow to Wadebridge.

First stop Porthcothan Village Store where Cornish Pasties set us up for the 15 mile walk! Donations from both the shop owner and locals were much appreciated. We don't like making a thing of the charity collection with either campsite or shop owners - they have a steady stream on charity walkers & cyclists in this part of the world and can't give to everybody!

Padstow was busy with tourists as it was Good Friday. Jos managed a very quick water colour painting of the harbour - she never stops! Barney as usual was on the look out for food!

A near miss with another dog in the town centre which seemed to be attempting to attack every passing dog whilst the owner looked in shop windows!

Then onto the Camel Trail which was 5 miles of former railway line now hard surfaced which was uncomfortable at the end of the day. Many cyclists as cycle hire is available and well used. We saw 3 near misses with dog owners nearly having squashed pets as they failed to control the animals as cyclist passed!

Shortly before reaching Wadebridge we were met by cousin Keith, his wife Margaret and their golden retriever who were walking to meet us.

We are now staying with them for a day off - very welcome!

Day 7 Newquay - Porthcothan

A shorter day after the previous long one. We needed to stop early and recover!
Not sure about sites so we took a chance on the first one and struck lucky! Most sites seem to be full of caravans with just small spaces (possibly) for backpacker but Atlantic View had about 20 acres of fields with just a few others pitched up and it was only £6 for all of us!
The wind has eased which makes for a more restful night.

Day 6 St Agnes - Newquay

A long day (17.5m) to get to the north side of Newquay.Again, superb coastline and strong westerly winds.
Many painting opportunities for Jos but little time to make use of them!
Now we see the receding headlands behind us as we move up the coast - St Ives is now hardly in view away in the distance.
Another noticeable change is in the stone walls - the bottom picture shows the use of slate in a way we have never seen before - very sculptural!
A detour inland is needed to get to a bridge over the river before we get to Newquay and then had a steep hill to climb to get to the centre of town - hard work at the end of the day. Then it's Aldi & fish & chips!
The final mile or so saw us arrive at the Porthbeach Holiday Park just as it was getting dark. Once the staff saw us looking for a place to put up the tent we were soon sorted and to make a grand end to the day they donated £15!