By: Mike

 

Wednesday 25th October

Our taxi meets us at 09.30 sharp.  Chris has decoded the parking system and books the day on her phone. £5.00.  Driver is Santiago aka ‘Santi’.  He’s from Barcelona.  What on earth is he doing in St Mawes, we wonder. Perhaps he is a political refugee?  We don’t find out.

Taxi is £30.00.  We are on the path at 09.45.  First thing that happens, I lose one of the stoppers on the end of my walking poles.  Annoying.  We then encounter a herd of cows.  They are harmless, of course, but still big and scary.  In avoiding them, we miss the path, and end up having to climb a fence.  This is much scarier for me than the cows.  I am too old to climb fences.

Surprisingly, it’s a fine day.  Rain passed over Cornwall during the night. We were practically in Portscatho when we stopped for lunch. It’s only six miles. We got coffee at Thyme and Tide again, did a bit of shopping at the well-stocked Portscatho stores and walked on to the New Road car park.

Later, Chris complained of pains in her shoulders and hands and started shaking.  Called NHS 111.  In fact, she was just reacting to letting herself get cold after the unaccustomed exercise.  Luckily, she was well enough to come to the Standard Inn for supper.  This is more than a pub with food, in fact more than a gastropub.  It boasts a celebrity chef – Simon Stallard.  Food excellent. Chris had a steak. This warmed her up and she felt fine.  I had an unusual and delicious kalettes starter followed by a delicious [ ].

The 111 doctor did not call back within two hours as promised.  He called at 03.00 and again at 04.00 before giving up since we didn’t pick up the phone.


                                                        Moon over Portscatho

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