Date: 20180705
Time: 9:15 – 15:40
Distance: 24.7 km (+ 2.9 km ferry)
Stay: Dolphin Hotel, Exmouth
Walk
Today I have a long and varied day ahead. The first piece is pretty heavy, after that it is not too bad. I also have two ferries, one on the Teign and one on the Exe. Especially the latter, at the end of the walk, I have to get. Officially the last one is always at 16:10 and in the season (now) at 17:10. But apparently the last one is sometimes skipped when there are no passengers. Well, today that will probably not be a problem, but I’m definitely aiming for the 15:10 one.
But first the tricky part. From Babbacombe to Teignmouth it goes over the cliffs and it’s constantly going up and down. Normally when you walk up, you stay there for a while before you go down again. But not today. When I am up, it immediately goes down again and when I am down, I immediately go up again. That’s what they call wearing out…
When I arrive in Shaldon, that is fortunately over. There I take the first ferry to Teignmouth. The ferry arrives just as I arrive at the beach.
Then the route is characterized by long flat sections and occasionally a hill. Those long flat sections consist largely of two sea walls that I walk over, 1 in Teignmouth and 1 in Dawlish. That is possible because it is low tide. Both sea walls run between the railway and the sea. Once you start, you can only finish them or go back.
I especially like the first sea wall in Teignmouth. Which I think is never under water, but after a few kilometers you have to go under the railway and that part is flooded at high tide. So if you do not pay attention in advance, you can walk back a few kilometers …
When I arrive at the river Exe, I think I am close to the ferry. However, that is disappointing, for that I still have to walk 4 kilometers. The stretch is completely flat. It goes along the Exe Estuary Trail, until I am in Starcross. The ferry leaves there. When I arrive, I just see the ferry of 14:10 departing. No problem, close by there is The Atmospheric Railway Inn and I go inside for a pint.
I’ll am ready for the ferry at 3 o’clock. There is no one else. A little later two ladies arrive who also want to go with the ferry. It arrives a little later and after all passengers have been unloaded, we can board. The crossing from Exmouth to Starcross seems a lot more popular than the other way around. 20 people came off the ferry and we are still only three.
On the ferry we get the safety notice that there are 56 lifejackets on board. Well, that is reassuring if it comes to that.
In Exmouth I only have to go a short distance to the hotel. Time for a shower.
10 more walks to go…
Weather
Fortunately, it was good weather today. Sunny, warm and dry with a light breeze.
Lyric of the day
I have now passed the 500 miles (officially, in reality I walk more). Hence today the lyrics I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) from The Proclaimers, a very appropriate text:
When I wake up, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
If I get drunk, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver, hey, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you
But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
When I’m working, yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I’ll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home (When I come home), oh, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s growing old with you
But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da
When I’m lonely, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s lonely without you
And when I’m dreaming, well, I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna dream about the time when I’m with you
When I go out (When I go out), well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
And when I come home (When I come home), yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I’m gonna be the man who’s coming home with you
But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da
And I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
