200 Miles!
Huge milestone today, the day’s total was 16.6km, about ten miles. This finally pushed my walk total over the 200 mile mark. At 200.4 miles it’s only just over 200 miles but the important thing is it’s two hundred and something, not one hundred and something!
Looking back along the North Devon coast from near the famous Valley of the Rocks.
Two hundred miles is a long way to drive, on foot it’s a bloody long way to walk but only if you think of it as a single distance. In actual fact it’s been a series of walks between 10 and 15 miles which taken together happen to add up to 200.4, each day is a simple, manageable distance and it’s only when you add all the days together that it becomes a bit special.
Today also marks the farthest I’ve walked on any one project since the Pennine Way in 1976 and that total of 270 miles looks pretty certain to fall in another week or two. Interestingly (for those interested in this sort of thing) almost all the “long distance” paths in the UK come in at less than 200 miles, and many are only about 100.
Part of the South West Coast Path above Combe Martin
The two hundred mark is a good time to take stock, and tomorrow, Monday 4th April, we’ll be taking as a day off; it’s also forecast to rain, the first in three weeks so we hope to sit it out and drink beer to celebrate the double century, or possibly take the bus to Ilfracombe.
Physically everything seems to be ok, still no blisters or excessive pains in the knees. My legs and lungs also seem to be giving up complaining and I even 300m ascents from beach to cliff top can be completed if not comfortably then at least without falling over and gasping for breath half way up.
Walking gear has been pared down to an absolute minimum, socks and trainers on the feet, underwear, trousers, ‘T’ shirt and light weight windproof fleece jacket and a hat; carry little and move fast, or a least carry little and move. This was increased today by the addition of a very nice scarf I found stuck on a gorse bush. In the rucksack is a camera, lunch water, wallet (in case I find a pub) and phone, that’s it.
The Support Team waiting patiently at a designated pickup spot, sometimes fining the correct location has been trying.
Sandra’s support driving and companionship has been the rock which has kept the project going and Arthur has provided the light entertainment.
So 200 miles in the bag and I’m still enjoying every day and looking forward to what tomorrow has to offer.
Feeling very pleased with myself this afternoon when the 200 mile mark was reached. That’s Exmoor behind me, and I’m nearly in Somerset