Thursday 1 August

By: Mike


We are doing a very quick pass to SWCP  in response to a spell of fine weather.  We will only get three days of walking, so let’s see how far we get.  Because of the short notice, we haven’t contacted Graham Spittle in Totnes.  We are going by train and have booked the only available cottage in Kingswear.
Ww go by us and underground to Paddington for the 09 37 to Paignton. A pleasant surprise we are in First Class! Don't remember booking it.  Unfortunately, I didn’t click for return because we have decided to take the bus to Totnes and get the train back from there. This doesn’t turn out well.  The idea was to save the cost of going back on the steam train to Paignton.  Woe!  See entry for 5th August.
It's a pleasant and restful journey to Paignton, and the steam train is fun.  The Paddington train ran a bit late, but we had plenty of time to transfer to the Dartmouth line and get tickets for the 13.05 steam train to Kingswear.  



We are not supposed to check in to our cottage until 16.00 So we have a leisurely lunch in the Ship, sitting on their terrace. Very pleasant. Smoked salmon and prawn salad.
We then bought supplies in the village shop.  These comprised three heavy bags.  The cottage ‘Navy Blue’ is right at the top of Kingswear and the way up is incredibly steep.  I go on ahead with the shopping to find the cottage.  It’s address is ‘Reservoir Terrace’.  I can’t find it and climb even higher than I need.  Finally, I realise that it is only a small terrace of houses at the end of Upper Wood Lane.   I get into the house via the key safe.  It’s only 15.30, but there is no sign of anyone.  We probably could have checked in at 0900! The I go back and bring my case up while Chris follows. Talk about Long Steep Hill.. It's really too much but we will have to make the best of it. Plans to nip over to Dartmouth for supper are abandoned, and we make do with what we can find in the shopping. The cottage is really excellent.  It has three bedrooms and a separate TV room – a nice terrace and two bathrooms. 

.  We are in clover so long as we don’t think about the hill.  And a view to die for – obviously!



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