A day of thirds today: the morning was a brilliant walk around a headland in bright sun with beautiful views, then a long march behind the beaches, ending with a slog back to my BnB.

It all start great with Sophie’s husband Matt dropping me off where I finished the day before. The sun was out, lambs were gamboling in the gorse, the walking was easy.

@ 3m I arrived at Croyde Beach where things started to go downhill. I followed the Coast Path signs which ended up being a slog thru the dunes behind the beaches when I should have just walked on the hard sand at the water’s edge.

Then the path took me up above the road above the beach for a long walk amongst gorse and blackberry bushes with occasional gorgeous glimpses of the scenery.

@ 6m I arrived at Saunton Sands. It doesn’t look like it in the picture but it’s 3.5 miles long. Unfortunately the tide was rising and there’s no exit points until the end so it wasn’t safe to walk on the beach. Instead, I went inland again thru (literally) a golf course, then patchy woodland that was shady and peaceful. 

@ 8m I reached the straight and fairly boring American Road and for the first time I put on my headphones and used an audiobook to pass the time. (Note: it’s so named as this is where the Americans trained for their assault on Normandy in WWII).

@ 10m I reached the end of the road at Crows Point, turned left to head up the estuary towards Braunton and the rain started.

Two miles of walking on a narrow gravel path atop the sea defense with the rain slashing against the back of my legs. One bright spot was watching 2 deer cross the embankment ahead of me, then trot into the river to splash and leap and finally swim their way over to the far muddy shore.

@ 12m I entered edge of Braunton and had just 1.25m left to reached my cozy oasis at Silver Cottage. I wonder what delectables Sophie’s making for dinner tonight?