Date: 20180524
Time: 9:20 – 14:55
Distance: 21.0 km
Stay: New Inn Hotel, Clovelly
Walk
After a day of rest, the next stage is up, from Westward Ho! to Clovelly. It is going up and down again today, not as bad as the first few days, but still.
Before I leave, I first replete my water supply in Westward Ho !. On an average walking day, I easily need 5 bottles of water (half a liter). That means that at the beginning of the day I have a much heavier backpack than later in the day 🙂
After a relaxed part immediately after Westward Ho! it is really going up and down again and up and down … So a typical Coast Path route. All in all it is manageable. What really helps is that after the last big climb the descent is very gradual. That descent goes via the Hobby Drive, a road to Clovelly which used to be a toll road. The road is called that way because building the road was a hobby for Sir James Hamlyn Williams.
Halfway through the Hobby Drive I meet a lot of people at a viewpoint. One of those people is Davey, whom I also encountered in Ilfracombe a few days ago. We walk the Hobby Drive together for some time, until Davey wants to drop the pace again.
Clovelly waits at the end of the Hobby Drive. Clovelly lies against the hill and has a very steep main street of boulders. Motorized traffic is banned and all transport is through sledges or donkeys. My hotel is halfway up the hill and I am well on time. Even earlier than my bags. So I will have a local beer while waiting.
In the evening I stay in the hotel and order lobster, which is freshly caught that morning. For me as a non-fish eater this is the first time I eat this … I’m not usually taking pictures of food, but this time I make an exception.
All in all a very successful day on the Coast Path. We are on the road again …
Weather
It was perfect walking weather today. Cloudy, dry and not too hot.
Lyric of the day
Because we are on the road again and because I met Davey again today (respect for carrying all that stuff and camping every night), today a golden oldie from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Davy’s on the Road Again:
Davy’s on the road again
Wearin’ different clothes again
Davy’s turning handouts down
To keep his pockets clean
All his goods are sold again
His word’s as good as gold again
Sez if you see Jean now ask her please to pity me
Jean and I we moved along
Since the day – down in the hollow
When the mind went driftin’ on
And the feet were soon to follow
Davy’s on the road again
Wearin’ different clothes again
Davy’s turning handouts down
To keep his pockets clean
Sayin’ his goodbyes again
Wheels are in his eyes again
Sez if you see Jean now ask her please to pity me
Downtown in the big town
Gonna set you back on your heels
With a mouth full of memories
And a lot of stickers for my windshield
Shut the door
Cut the light
Davy want be home tonight
You can wait till the dawn rolls in
You won’t see our Davy again
Davy’s on the road again
Wearin’ different clothes again
Davy’s turning handouts down
To keep his pockets clean
Sayin’ his goodbyes again
Wheels are in his eyes again
Sez if you see Jean now ask her please to pity me
Downtown in the big town
Gonna set you back on your heels
With a mouth full of memories
And a lot of stickers for my windshield
Shut the door
Cut the light
Davy want be home tonight
You can wait till the dawn rolls in
You won’t see our Davy again
