A Feather in My Cap

By: Mike
 Minehead to Porlock 8 Miles

 Logistics are everything when you are doing a walk in chunks.  We learnt that on the Thames path. Somerset and North Devon are even harder. Buses very sparse indeed. So - taxis are the lifeline.  The plan is to drive to our first overnight in Porlock.  Leave the car and take a taxi to Minehead.
An early start from home in Hampton Hill gets us to Sparkhayes Campsite at Porlock in time to meet our taximan at 12.00. It's a bright red electric Nissan Leaf.  The first time we have ever been in a fully electric car. It goes like a rocket. Keith tells us he has only spent £300 on electricity compared with £3,000 if it had run on diesel.  Of course for long trips or more than two passengers he has another car - a diesel.

It's not long after leaving the Minehead seafront before you hit the first of many steep climbs. Going up and up through woods I notice a prominently striped feather on the ground.  Without thinking I pick it up and stuff it in my cap.

Before long we are up on Exmoor and come across this little cluster of Exmoor ponies.  There aren't many of them now and apparently they are endangered.  We picnic on cheese and ham sandwiches and fruit brought from home. There's a gentle walk through fields with cattle and sheep until a steep zig-zag down to Bossington. Inspired by the tea shop (closed) we decide on a short cut direct to Porlock where, from my previous recce I know there are at least two more tea places.
Oh, so we've missed a bit of the SWCP. Whose measuring anyway?  We are not going to be purist are we?
All tea places in Porlock are closed.  It's only just after 17.00.  Really!  Tired and a bit grumpy we head to the shop to buy stuff for breakfast and tomorrow's picnic.  There's a bit of a moment at the check out.  Too many items to carry easily but Chris, caring for the environment, refuses the offer of a plastic bag. I'm on the edge of a meltdown when the check out lady, fearful of becoming a witness in a domestic abuse case, produces a cardboard box. Phew!


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