Porthcothan looked so different this morning to when we had left it yesterday afternoon.  This morning we left it in glorious sunshine.  And although the weather had cheered up so dramatically, it was with a heavier heart that I set off – I had received news that our lovely friend Grainne had lost her battle with cancer on Sunday – such a vibrant person, amazing wife and mother and beautiful friend – rest in peace Grainne.  I thought of you every step of my journey today and felt you were holding my hand all the way. ❤️

And this turned out to be my favourite walking day so far.  All 12 miles of it.  So that was 13.5 yesterday and 12 today.  Some gentle slopes but lots of steps …. and more steps …. and yet more steep steps!!  But nothing particularly scary or life-threatening.  Some narrow paths where you feel you have to walk like a model – one foot placed strategically in front of the other – trying not to look at the drop on your right!  But the majority of the time we strolled over easier terrain – well when I say stroll, Steve prefers to speed walk so my little legs work hard to keep up!  And overtaking – well, Steve was positively triumphant when we overtook a younger couple climbing a hill out of Mawgan Porth just after lunch.  And this was quite a feat as we had just polished off a cream tea!  

Had hoped so much to lose weight on this journey but it’s just not happening.  So much exercise but then throw in full English Breakfasts, Cornish pasties, cream teas, fish and chips, wine/beer!!  I saw a great sign in a shop in Padstow which read  ‘Please God, if you can’t make me thin, please make all my friends fat!’

Passed through so many beautiful beaches today – Bedruthan Steps, Mawgan Porth, Watergate Bay, Porth – much busier beaches in this part of Cornwall and today being particularly sunny they were heavily populated.

After 5 hours of walking + a lunch stop we arrived in Newquay – seems like a metropolis compared to all our other stops so far.  Settled into our B&B, found a friendly launderette to service wash our gear (this is such a big thing!!) and then dined out in Senor Dick’s Mexican Bar and Restaurant.  Had a little wander round Newquay before retiring back to our room for the night.  And it’s still only 8.30pm.  We had thought we’d planned in a day’s rest tomorrow but just realised that we haven’t – so harsh!!  So another 11 miles to cover tomorrow and it threatens to be ‘challenging – strenous.’