By: Mike

 



Tuesday 20th July

 

Even hotter today, and we drive to Port Gaverne.  We try hard to park but it is impossible, so we end up in the Port Isaac car park.  There is a friendly shop/cafĂ© where we get coffee, and sit outside eating our packed breakfast.


                                                            Port Gaverne


Then it’s down the hill to wait for Debbie.  Standing in the shade I get talking to a man who is about to join a ‘coasteering’ expedition.  This is a sport where you scramble along the rocks on the bottom of the cliffs, wearing wet suit, buoyancy aid and helmet, preferably with an experienced guide.  It sounds mad, but apparently, it’s a recognised and fast-growing sport with a very low casualty rate.  Not for me.

 Once again, Debbie is right on time and takes us back to Trebarwith.  The guide book is quite blood-curdling about this stretch.  It warns of seven, yes seven, steep and deep valleys before we get to Port Gaverne.  Maybe we are just getting fitter, but in fact we get through it without too much trouble.  We are very glad we did the extra miles from Tintagel yesterday.  The heat is overpowering.  Fortunately, we have plenty of water and we need all of it.  We make it back to Bude in time to shower and change for dinner at The Brendon Arms. £46.65.  Later, The Times runs a piece about staff shortages hitting the tourist industry.  The reporter bases the report in Bude and interviews the manager of the Brendon Arms.  She says they would be serving food in their large beer garden if they had the staff.



                                                        The canal at Bude

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