After yesterday’s blisteringly hot day, we decided to take it a bit easier. We were already time constrained as we needed to get to near Ottery St Mary, in Dorset, for a family wedding at the weekend. The wedding was for my other niece, Isabel, Beth’s sister (incidentally I only have two nieces, but five nephews) and she needed to be at the rehearsal in the afternoon, so there wasn’t much leeway. So the plan was to walk to Wembury, to start a three bus journey to Ottery. It would only be 10 kilometres short of reaching Cornwall, and I can easily catch that up when I start the Cornwall section (or the South Cornwall section, my “rules” for walking county, by county are in tatters).

I had a pretty good night sleep, and woke up pretty early to use the facilities (think “Jesse’s Diet”, from The Fast Show, “mostly I’ve been eating… :). I then just sat outside the pod in the peace and quiet, and the early morning sun. It was quite blustery was a tremendous experience. I posted a video on Instagram, and a friend asked if it was AI – it wasn’t, it was real!

The ferry we needed didn’t start until 9am (£5 card accepted) so we had a relatively show start, with the instant oats that Beth had bought, when I discovered the failings of yesterdays only shop. Once walking, we retraced our steps from last night to get back onto the coast path and walk the long way around the headland to the ferry. The views of Cornwall across the bay almost made me regret the decision to cut today day short, but it was only another couple of hours walk and another ferry into Plymouth, which would have just made us (Beth) too late.

The Yealm ferry is a rather cool piece of equipment as it is electric and just glides across the water. You call it by opening up a flap to reveal a bright orange signal and the boat appears. All very simple, although I think you can catch it to multiple places across the various creeks, but I think the rucksacks were a giveaway to our direction.

Progress was slow this morning, mainly due to one of Beth’s sandals (I know, sandals!! I’m as surprised as you are!) breaking and the improvised repair involved tying the sandal to her foot. This had a varying level of success. I did consider just abandoning her, but she is family. Anyway, it was a horrendous hobble for the last kilometre into Wembury ;) and the 48 bus to Plymouth. The only positive point was the bus stop had a bench and nice view.

It was a further two buses into Ottery, where after leaving Beth (to find the wedding party), I failed to find a suitable pub for a weary hiker with massive rucksack. All the pubs were small, and no beer gardens in sight. Nevertheless, I managed find a pub with no ale, and had to squeeze a lunchtime Guinness both literally and figuratively. I decided to looked elsewhere for food. I found the Silver Otter Cafe in the town square. This was an amazing place with people with learning disabilities working in the cafe. It was really nice, and the lady running it was so kind, and the BLT sandwich was excellent. I think every town should have a cafe like this, giving opportunities for people to discover skills, in a caring environment.

It was a 15 minute walk to Cadhay House, the venue for the wedding, where I soon got embroiled helping setting up for the wedding tomorrow. Here are a few pictures, unrelated to hiking, but included for historical purposes, and congratulations to Isabel and Matt, and a wonderful wedding :)