Tuesday 18th June

By: Mike

 


Last walking day. We get the 93 bus from the harbour at 10.30, having bought smoked salmon bagels at the deli. 

We get off at Torcross and we set off along the flat stretch parallel to the Slapton Sands beaches. 



There is a monument erected by the Americans to commemorate the civilian population who were all forced to leave their homes so the entire area could be used for D Day training from the autumn of 1943 right up to June 44.  


Then it’s up to Strete, lunch in a meadow and a sharp climb up to the main road before descending to Blackpool Sands.  

                                                            I love this tree.  

We have brought our swimming togs.  However, it clouds over and the wind is nippy.  The water is freezing.  The beach shelves steeply and you are straight into deep water.  I manage half a dozen strokes.  Chris gets no further than waste deep.

                                                    Blackpool Sands.  Pretty - but chilly


We beat a hasty retreat to the café for a warming cuppa.  As we are leaving a woman working for the SWCP Association asks if she can take our picture.  We are members now and happy to oblige.

We get the 93 at 16.21. 

Back at the flat, there’s a bottle of Tattinger left over from my birthday which we have carried round with us to celebrate finishing our walk.  It turns out that the security lid is still on it.  I have great difficulty in removing it.  I end up by sawing through the hard plastic.  It is worth it!

In two weeks, after a shaky start we have walked more than 50 miles.  Poole is beginning to appear as a slight glimmer at the end of a very long tunnel.

Supper is back at Bushells.  I have oysters and the bill is £100.

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