{"id":3304,"date":"2012-05-12T23:41:39","date_gmt":"2012-05-12T22:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/geoffjones.com\/?p=3304"},"modified":"2012-05-12T23:41:39","modified_gmt":"2012-05-12T22:41:39","slug":"stoke-fleming-to-paignton-on-the-south-west-coast-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsite.geoffjones.com\/?p=3304","title":{"rendered":"Stoke Fleming to Paignton on The South West Coast Path"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the mother of all sleeps at Fairholme I awoke for the first time, on this trip, to a glorious blue sky and no wind. After a lavish breakfast I was on my way.<\/p>\n

\"Muddy<\/a>The first 4 miles to Dartmouth were OK, although I declined the option through the mud and followed a dog walker up to the coastguard cottages and then along the road (the old route apparently according to the OS). In fact on the side of the road there is a plethora of acorn signs which don’t really make sense.<\/p>\n

\"Dartmouth\"<\/a>Dartmouth is very photogenic and I\u00a0recognised\u00a0the huge Officer Navy Training building<\/a> on top of the hill, where, in a past life, I was lavishly treated to a night’s stay. The stay came about because we sold them some kit for their electron microscope a long time ago (I remember the orderly reeling of a huge list of marmalades when I stupidly just asked for marmalade).<\/p>\n

\"Chandlers<\/a>This time I was with the plebs and went to the chandlery, the sort of shop that sends my brain whirring on what I could use all the marine kit for around the house \ud83d\ude42 this time it was\u00a0spinnaker\u00a0tape for fixing holes in my shorts pockets, some gorgeous nylon cord & a special cement<\/a> for fixing tears and holes in nylon (even punctures in rubber boats). Then it was on the ferry. Which is dragged across by a tug boat driven with extraordinary skill. At \u00a0the other side I started walking up the hill only to realize I had left my poles in the shop \ud83d\ude41 so back across the water and another \u00a31.20. The ferryman felt sorry for me on the third crossing and let me on for nothing \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Car<\/a>I walked on only to get stuck behind a plonker who thought his car wouldn’t go down a narrow lane, I tried to convince him he could but he insisted on reversing which was even worse especially with his wife saying it was very going to hit with a good 3″ gap. I began to wonder if I would ever get started on the difficult bit ahead. Fortunately two ladies came by and took over \ud83d\ude42 I squeezed by and sped on.<\/p>\n

A short while later the ladies zoomed past, saying they had been relieved by another group who had convinced the driver to get through. I was left thinking I’m getting very slow…I overtook them shortly afterwards when they sat down to admire the view,<\/p>\n

\"Paignton<\/a>The route quickly turned into a roller coaster with a\u00a0vengeance\u00a0up and down lots of coombes (which got me thinking about my most hated teacher at school was a Ma Coombes!).<\/p>\n

Eventually, at Berry Head I found a cafe in the fort as i was getting parched (dry carrot cake at \u00a32.80). I left suitably refreshed and who should I find on the seats down the lane but the two ladies from earlier in the day, so maybe I’m not so slow after all \ud83d\ude42 they were only on a day walking trip to Brixham taking a weekend off from kids & hubbies to visit the Dartmouth music festival.<\/p>\n

\"Golden<\/a>I left them at the historic replica of the \u00a0Golden Hind<\/a> ship and raced on for the next 6 miles to Paignton, past 100’s of Sally’s<\/a> objects of desire, Beach huts \ud83d\ude42 even more up and downs past the kids and unhealthy looking folks dawdling along.<\/p>\n

I eventually found The Adelphi ready for another good nights kip, although the bed is very soft!<\/p>\n

The pics are here<\/a> and stats here<\/a> with Everytrail below:
\nStoke Fleming to Paignton on The South West Coast Path at EveryTrail<\/a>
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