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).