Rediscovering my Roots in Devon

Devon Coastal Path - Soar Mill Cove

Yes, I was born in Devon but left  after a few months so not sure I can claim deep roots here, though I could claim a third nationality if they go independent any time. But, as ever, I am getting ahead of myself.

Jim's kayak seems to be a bit low in the water

The week between the Madchester run and heading south was lovely so got some gardening in and on Thursday agreed with my paddling friend Ian to go ahead on our long-planned exploration of the River Calder near Wakefield. At the last minute Jim agreed to come too, so I loaded the old ply kayak my dad made for me when I was 11 on the van roof alongside my sea kayak. We launched at Stanley Ferry and headed downstream finding the Calder was surprisingly shallow with a number of rapids. After a couple of miles Jim followed me down a particularly shallow one to the sound of scraping bottoms. Shortly after, Jim started complaining of a wet bottom himself as his boat gradually flooded from a gash not unlike the one in the Titanic. Fortunately Jim was wearing a wet suit and once we had dragged the kayak to the bank for later collection he swam behind us for a mile downstream til we could find a place to get out. After a picnic lunch Jim and Ian paddled back upstream while I walked back along the canal towpath. Fortunately, unlike the river which snakes its way down the valley,  the canal goes straight as a die back to Stanley Ferry where we re-loaded the boats and went off to find the wreck - a bit of ply and some fibreglass should fix it. Equally fortunately, Ian is the kind of guy to take this sort of incident in his stride. As for Jim, despite what he said on Facebook, he really loves getting wet and the fact that he was wearing a wet-suit on a hot sunny day suggests to me he had it all planned from the start. And on that bombshell......

Friday night we went to Selby to see Emily Smith (again!). Probably even better in this cosier venue but she is off round Scotland now and then to Canada for the Edmonton Folk Festival and Europe into the autumn. So, might be difficult to catch her for a while but my favourite folk singer so keep an eye on her.

On Saturday an early start, hoping to stop for lunch at Malvern and see John and Monica. John called as we headed south to say Mon was back in hospital. Only as a precautionary measure thankfully but that meant we went straight to Kingsbridge to pick up Belle. Pat, Kate, Emily and Ben's new house, just around the corner from their old one, is bigger and they have added a couple of rooms so it's really nice. Must have been a relief  not to have to change schools or move away from friends.

Sunday morning meant taking Belle up Darky Lane for her morning walk. Its a lovely old track with wildflowers each side. Kate had said it was OK to go over into the fields alongside but the barbed wire and electric fence said otherwise so we stuck to the path.

After lunch we went over to South Milton Beach and took Belle over to Hope Cove and Bolt Tail. Part of the Devon Coastal Path with great views of the cliffs, kestrels and masses of wildflowers.

My own private cove opposite North Sands

Next day I ignored Belles complaints until 8 o' clock before talking her up the hill. Margot was keen to do some preparation for her French so I took the kayak down to Kingsbridge and launched on a high tide from the slipway. A nice sunny day and an interesting paddle down to Salcombe past hundred's of moored boats and out into the estuary until the waves got big enough to suggest I turned around and landed in a little sandy cove across from North Sands for a picnic lunch. Foolishly I went for an icy swim and never really un-froze despite the sun so decided to warm up by paddling back to Kingsbridge.

Unfortunately I got there before the tide and there was not enough water to get into the town or indeed to land anywhere. To make it worse my phone had got a bit damp when a freak wave caught me as I was launching off the beach so I couldn't phone Margot to agree a new rendezvous. Nothing for it but to go back to Salcombe to find a phone box. So a total of 20 kilometres but a lovely day nevertheless. Thanks to Margot and Belle for coming to get me.

Tuesday and Belle woke Margot up at 7 o'clock and she foolishly got up and took her for her walk. I prophesied next day it would be 6 o'clock and I was right but managed to ignore her for two hours before giving in. This time I crawled through the barbed wire into the fields and Belle clearly enjoyed being off the lead.

Welcoming party at Soar Mill Cove

Later that day we drove over to East Soar and did a circular walk down to Soar Mill Cove, along the coastal path to Bolt Head and then round Sharp Tor to the National Trust  at Overbeck. 10 kilometres but again a beautiful sunny afternoon.

We had been too late to visit Overbecks, the National Trust property, so agreed to go back the following afternoon, but not until I had done my 10k training run for Sundays Jane Tomlinson run in Hull. Down to the quay and twice up the hill to West Kilvington. This gave a total climb of 230 metres which is about 220 metres more than Hull.

Bolt Head

We took Belle with us to Overbecks but no dogs allowed in the gardens so we took her for a walk along the top to Bolt Head and then left her in the van (with blanket, water, treat and widows open of course!) while we went in for a cup of tea and a short look at the garden. Worth a longer visit next time we are down.

Company at the Overbecks tea room

Today, Thursday is the last full day so after both of us taking Belle up the hill at 8, I set off with the kayak to North Sands beyond Salcombe. Hugged the coast out to Bolt Head exploring the rocks before crossing to the other side and then back to North Sands. Had to be a bit careful as I was on my own but it was quite calm so no real risks. I realise I am doing what my dad would have loved to have been doing had he lived long enough to enjoy his retirement - there's no justice.

For lunch Margot and I walked down to the town centre and enjoyed a meal in the garden of Harbour House, an art gallery with vegetarian cafe. Then back up the hill via several charity shops to collect Belle and   back down again for a walk up into the  woods near West Kilvington. Belle off the lead and clearly loving it, even breaking into a run. She seems to have accepted us as family for the time being and is  much more lively than at the beginning. We will be sad to leave her with Ann.

Our care of the neighbour's fish has been less successful. We were given responsibility for two fish, one (Piranha) normal goldfish size, the other (Spongepants Bob) was tiny. They were definitely both there on Saturday night but by Sunday morning Piranha was alone, though possibly a little fatter. Not sure how Pat and Kate will explain this to the neighbour's kids.

On Saturday, after walking Belle and a thorough clean (honest! - we want to be invited again) we set off for Ann's but hoping to walk Belle on the Malvern Hills and see John and Monica. We failed to make contact so stopped at Portishead for lunch and a walk by the Bristol Channel. Fortunately we have just had a call from Monica so she is home but just didnt get our message in time.

In Missenden Ann, Alan and Jane were back from Italy so we heard about their trip and Jane generously took us all out for tapas in the village. Glad we managed to make contact before she goes back.

We got home in time to catch Sam and the boys before they went out, but we stayed in with a hig carb meal and a good nights sleep as we needed to start for Hull about 7am. It was grey, wet and cold but in spite of , or perhaps because of, we all did our Personal Best times. Hull is very flat though so I doubt we can beat that at Leeds or York. To Donate

Jim and Matt are really getting into this fitness thing having signed up not just for the Great North Run in September, a Warrior Dash and an open water swim at Pugneys in aid of Jane Tomlinson (seeing Matt in my wet suit has got to be worth the entrance money alone). A step too far for me. Several steps in fact!

So, its Tuesday night, every day is Bank Holiday for us retired folk so couldn't get too excited about all the Jubilee shennanigans on the TV. I watched the armada on the Thames and the fly-past which at least brought a smile to Her face but I got irritated by the BBC constantly feeling the need to tell us how exciting it all was. Don't want to be a party pooper so 'nuff said. Instead, I've been gardening and working on my essay on the roots and remedies of prejudice and discrimination for my Social Psychology course. It's nearly done so I've just picked up a big fat volume of The_Avignon_Quintet by Lawrence Durrell which Wiki tells me is 'metafiction'. Sounds daunting but I'm already into the first chapter and intrigued so looks like I will stick with it. While in Devon, apart from preparing for my essay, I finished off Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Very different from the film but both good in their own ways. Probably best to see the movie first.

With the Olympics and Paralympics coming up, the new programme for City Screen and the Folk Club, the River Festival, our removals trip to Anduze, two 10k runs and a possible scything internship in Dorset it looks like a busy summer so watch this space .....