DAY 10: Launceston to Bridestowe: Evening Report

Today: 17.1 miles
Total Mileage: 140.0 miles
Percentage Completed: 8.4%

(Click map to enlarge)

A lovely day: Fine & sunny, well way-marked and an absolute joy. The first pint went down so well at lunchtime that I had a pint of Sharp's Doombar to follow, which was even nicer than the first. I held myself back and refused a free one from the landlord (ex Navy man; I reckon he had seen it all in his time).

The tent is now pitched (and looking jolly handsome, if I say it myself). It is a bit of a tardis - I have a huge amount of room inside. I knew where I was in the old Akto - everything had it's place so I could lay my hands on the stuff I wanted in the pitch black of the night. This new tent needs to be broken in - disciplined in the ways of it's master - at the moment it is chaos in there and I shall never find anything.

Bob Cartwright (when he interviewed me for the podcast) was taken aback when I told him I had not tried it out before the walk. So: Tonight's the Night!The feather mattress is all inflated, as is the pillow and the sleeping bag is all laid all ready for me (It will be a first for that too).

I am now in the White Hart and am on 'Jail Ale' from the Princetown Brewery on Dartmoor; thought I had better try it seeing as I am now in Devon. And it's very nice too! I can see myself trying another one in a minute. This is fine little pub bang opposite the Post Office and church. A perfect little English village.

I am really getting the hang of this walk now. I am beginning to mentally 'free-wheel' as I bimble along. At the start, I was thinking of too many things - perhaps apprehension, and I spent too much time working stuff out as I walked - wondering who to call to sort out last minute little snags, bits of work that needed attention, worrying about how I would cope - all sorts of stuff crowding my thoughts.

Now I am leaning back, taking long breaks in the sunshine, having another chocolate bar rather than looking at the map and working out destination times. The next destination will arrive in it's own good time. All I have to do is lie back and think of England!

Lynnie is on her way back from Italy from her skiing trip - nothing is broken.
All is well with the world.