Today was cloudy, but mild and no rain! The terrain has been very varied – we left Perranporth at low tide, to walk along the two mile beach, before heading up onto the sand dunes and cliffs, with fabulous views again and with less climbing than yesterday, thankfully! We stopped for coffee at Holywell Beach and for lunch at Crantock.

Inevitably we arrived at the Gannel Estuary at high tide. There are three footbridges, but the first two were under water, so a two and a half mile detour through muddy paths and fields took us to the third footbridge. David would have happily waited the 2-3 hours for the tide to recede, but I preferred to continue walking!

Finally, we walked up the streets into busy Newquay, happy to settle into our comfortable hotel for a two night stay to recuperate from 6 days walking!

A Backward Glance

At the start of each day’s walk, Carol has to find a Post Office to get forms stamped to prove that we are genuinely insane and are not just pretending to be. We often argue about the necessity of this exercise, but today proved my point. After nearly half an hour looking for the Post Office we pushed the door hard only to find it locked and a sign stating it was open every morning from 9.00AM except Sunday’s!

It was a gently undulating walk, hugging the coast line and mainly under a grey sky. We met Phil from near Edendale en route who was walking and wild camping along the Cornish coast. It’s interesting to meet others and to realise the irony of enjoying the company of those who prefer to be on their own.

I always enjoy my pub break and expectations were high when I saw the sign ‘Bowgie Inn’ and my horror when I saw the glass and aluminium monstrosity it hung over. The sinking feeling in me plumbed depths never before felt when after pushing the tall glass doors into the place there was a perishing ‘reception desk’! At the desk was a teenage girl with understandable fear in her eyes as she timidly tried to explain to a red faced old man that he was not allowed to order from the bar! She nervously proffered a piece of paper explaining orders had to be made using the QR code printed on it, while volunteering to explain how it works to me, if I wanted her to. Carol quickly dragged me to an outside balcony overlooking the sea, realising I was about to explode. She got to task with the QR whatever, while I explained 1984 and the woke attitude to common decency and personal service. “Can’t order ‘orange juice and lemonade’ on this” Carol complained. Ah hah, good, I WILL order it from the bar then! The young man there had a confidence and intelligent appearance I should have taken notice of – but I was in combative mood. “Your stupid QR rubbish says you can’t make orange juice and lemonade, please can I have a pint and I will explain to you how if you want me to.” “Yes you can sir, just order lemonade and ……”. “No you can’t”. ,Yes you…”. A young girl from the other end of the bar saw the developing battle and (I believe) recognised her own Grandad in me, came over and took me back to the reception area again where the nervous receptionist was cowering with her hands over her head. The girl took me to the MacDonalds type rolling touch screen ordering system and patiently showed me how to order the ‘orange and lemonade’ and a beer for me. “Do you know your table number” she asked nodding her head from side to side. “It doesn’t matter” she reassured. But I had and in a ‘course I have, did you think I’m stupid’ tone, said yes 132. She smiled looking surprised and told me it would be at my table in a couple of minutes. I walked back to our table thinking it was so lucky Carol remembered to tell me the table number. To cap it all, the drinks came on time, quickly followed by the food which was delicious and the table service annoyingly impeccable. The rest of the walk was made by a very reluctant convert to modernity.