D111: KINGSBRIDGE to SALCOMBE
Wednesday 27th September 2023
Today miles: 9.4 Total miles: 1870.8
Although I’ve recorded todays walk as starting in Kingsbridge I’m actually camped some three miles East of the town. With the genuine fear of being trampled to death I eventually gave up any hope of sleeping and somehow managed to pack up my tent and the rest of my gear in the dark. With a full moon for company I was on my way towards Kingsbridge around 4am. It’s weird walking along dark country roads in the middle of the night. I was so concerned about coming across any wildlife that I spent most of the next ninety minutes with one earphone in my left ear, singing along loudly to the music and also trying not to fall into any unsuspecting potholes. I reached the outskirts of Kingsbridge, near Dodbrooke and decided to take a long break on a wooden bench outside of the local church. It was a warm night and I got so comfortable that I dropped off soon after and only woke up as the sun was starting to appear in the now blue sky. I walked the rest of the way as the town was beginning to stir and eventually I arrived at Kingsbridge main bus stop. The service station nearby opened half an hour later and I managed to grab myself a hot drink and something for breakfast. As I was sat in the bus stop eating my sausage roll a huge hairy spider fell from the light above and landed on my bare legs, I was just pleased there weren’t any others around to either see my excessive reaction and then hear the subsequent list of profanities that came out of my mouth. It took my heart a good hour or so to settle down.
The next six miles towards Salcombe was uninspiring. It’s an absolute slog along more undulating minor roads, fortunately it’s still early and there’s very little traffic. Occasionally walking around an estuary can be quite interesting, particularly if there’s an established footpath. This wasn’t one of these occasions.
Yesterday afternoon whilst sat in the pub at Frogmore I’d done some research and I’ve managed to book myself into an hotel for tonight. On arrival at Salcombe I jumped on board the local bus which would take me back to Kingsbridge. The bus was empty when I boarded at Salcombe but jammed with school children by the time it arrived at its destination an hour later.
After another bus trip I arrived in Plymouth city centre, around lunchtime and before heading to the hotel I picked up some food for the next few days. The weather for the next few days is expected to be more heavy showers, so tonight I’m hoping to get a decent sleep in a comfortable bed. It’s been a short walking day in order to get around Salcombe estuary, I’m so pleased it’s over.
Werewolfandflump UK Coast Path 