Hi folks
Roy is plodding on, just booked into Minehead Youth Hostel for the night. Unfortunately the parcel he sent me a week ago first class has not arrived, so it looks likely that his diary notes and SD card (as well as his dirty washing) are lost forever. So no new photos.

The weather is still not good - bitterly cold down there, with very strong winds which have affected him in his very well ventilated North Face Particle 13 tent. In all the reviews it came out as the best one man lightweight tent, but..... brrrr! I have been in touch with a company called "Divide & Conker", and they have very kindly volunteered to supply him with a merino wool base layer free of charge. So.... please give them your custom, they're on the net! We'll let you know how he gets on with it later, and maybe post a picture of him wearing it.

Accommodation has continued to be a mixture of camping, youth hostels and bed and breakfasts when very cold and no hostels around! From Boscastle he continued round the coast: Widemounth Bay, Bude, Elmscott Youth Hostel (near Hartland Point), Clovelly, Bideford, past Barnstaple as quickly as possible (didn't like), Mortehoe, Coombe Martin, Lynton, Portlock and on to Minehead Youth Hostel. Tomorrow he follows the coast a bit further then swings inland to cross the Quantock Hills.

Thanks for all your messages of support - Roy does appreciate them.

Now 26 March (next day) and two packages from Roy have arrived together, along with a wind-up phone charger so here are a few photos:

As you can see, Roy was living dangerously on this occasion. He assures me that he did consider very carefully whether to direct the opening of the tent towards or away from the sheer cliff face!

David Bailey?

Is this sunrise or sunset?

A bit damp?

This section of Roy's walk has been dominated by the weather. On Monday 10 March, the day the storms hit Cornwall, here is an extract from his diary:

"After waving Helen off to drive back up north, set off in the hyped up storm. It almost lived up to the hype. Could tell it was a good breeze when, anchored on top of Trevelgue Head for photo across Newquay Bay, I found it difficult to draw breath unless I turned the back of my head to the wind.
Anyway, knowing there was a good breeze out, and heeding all warnings (well most anyway) from the various authorities about keeping clear of harbour walls and cliff tops etc, I decided to stay well away from the edge as I walked. But the cliff decided to sidle closer to me. I could see that about ten paces in front, the path would be within half a yard of the edge, and a bit of avoidance action would be needed. Just then, this stiff breeze, maybe a bit miffed because it was blowing onto my back and therefore not affecting my breathing, decided to give me a mighty shove from behind. Quick thinking saved the day. After two involuntary steps, the cliff edge was closing rapidly from the left. I threw myself down and to my right. A smart piece of thinking this, since my first sky dive was awaiting from the left and I didn't have a parachute handy. But the force of the wind and the inertia of the rucksack caused me to bounce off my right shoulder, roll face down and come to rest on my left shoulder with my face to the wind and the rucksack downslope, pinning me in place and running out of breath. There was a moment, just a moment, when I didn't know if I was going to stop rolling. I was able to loosen the rucksack, turn over and breathe, but I must have been a good few minutes before I could move again. At that point I decided it would have to be a road walk for a while."

Further adventures the next day, when Roy reluctantly decided to abandon the coast in the continuing gale and head inland for Padstow along footpaths. But he hadn't bargained for the fact that Cornish footpaths are almost completely overgrown with brambles, thorn and broom.

Armed with his trusty multi-tool he struggled through, shredding his hands in the process and instructing me to complain to the Cornish Footpath Preservation Society!

Roy has had to continue bed and breakfasting, partly because of the atrocious weather and partly because most of the youth hostels and camp sites don't open till Easter. But he's now collected a parcel of a bivvy bag I've sent him "poste restante", so he'll have more flexibility from now on. Not many good photos this week because of the mist, but the route has been through Padstow, Port Isaac, Tintagel and Boscastle (14 March).

Hi folks
Just got back from my week with Roy in Cornwall, walking from Lands End to Newquay. It was a great week, but I'm very glad I've escaped just as the biggest storm of the year was starting to hit the south west! More of that next week when I get the next chunk of information from Roy. He's writing a day-by-day diary, hoping to publish at the end of the walk, so you'll have to wait a while before you get to read that.

We both found the week strenuous because we hadn't had time to get fit before we set off and the coastal path in some areas consists of a short walk along the cliffs, killer-steps or steep path down to sea level, killer-steps back up to the cliff, repeat, repeat, repeat.... Roy had to keep reminding himself that this is the cushy part of the walk. Scenery was wild and magnificent - angry white foamy seas crashing on rugged rocks - and that was before the storm! I can only upload a few photos at a time so have a look at them. I'll have to overwrite them to make room for others each time Roy sends me the SD card from the camera.

Little acts of kindness mean so much on this kind of trip, like the hotelier who felt sorry for us and let us in for a coffee even though they were really closed. The bed and breakfast stops varied from excellent to absolutely dire, all adding to the fun. One was so bad that we didn't like putting our belongings on the carpet in case they got dirty! The plan is for Roy to camp and youth hostel from now on, but there are only two problems with that - the 80mph winds and the fact that most of the youth hostels and campsites don't open till Easter. More next time!

During the week we saw plenty of wild-life. Kestrels, buzzards, sanderling, oyster-catcher, skylarks, a giant furry caterpillar, a newt/lizard (don't know the difference), about forty basking seals, and a robin that ate out of Roy's hand (honestly). The scenery really was incredible, food for the soul. And the feeling of satisfaction is enormous as you watch the bit of coast you walked a couple of days ago disappearing from the distant horizon. I'm just beginning to understand why Roy needs to do this trip all in one go, not in lots of disjointed bits.

Next instalment when I have more news. H