21st October 2023

There were three of us at the hut last night. Me, a semi retired dentist and an optometrist who was a bit younger than us!

Obviously in search of the same thing we all met up in a cafe in Walpole and all had the same question, “what the [expletive deleted] was that all about?”

The day didn’t start out too bad, wriggling along forest roads, fighting gravel, fallen branches and watching for snakes etc. Some quite nice scenery following as we went along the side of a valley. Then it opened up and and onto a tarmac road. As long as the tarmac isn’t too steep it’s ok because the rolling resistance is probably 40% less than gravel so you can get up most things using pedal power.

Only this one got steeper and steeper. Obviously I was off and pushing by this point but it was so steep I was even struggling to make headway pushing. After about half a mile I finally got to the top where there was supposed to be some sort of art installation but, to be honest, I was so tired I bypassed it. I also got teased by some Brits on e-bikes who couldn’t understand why I’d want to do it without a motor. But to my relief they said it was all downhill to Walpole from there. They lied.

Having completely drained my legs there were some more steep bits and then a long slog through wet sand which is also almost impossible to pedal in.

Anyway, I’m now in a cafe having a meat pie, bowl of fruit and a coffee by way of making a start on replacing the calories.

Next is a trip to the beach where there is supposed to be a caravan park. With a bit of luck they will have a hut with a bed I can rent for the night. Watch this space!

Postscript.

Yes, there may be sunscreen on the phone camera lens, will try to fix that….

Never did make it as far as the beach. My dentist waylaid me by saying that his motel which was about 100m away from the cafe had vacant rooms. Good call, and reasonably priced for what it offers: bug free, big room, what looks like a big comfy bed, powerful hot shower, tea, coffee and biggest luxury of all, biscuits!!!!

It’s hard to explain the simple pleasure of a long hot shower and clean towel after three days in the bush. I’m not sure my shins will ever come clean but I gave it a good try. They also look like a battleground after all the bug bites (don’t think I mentioned the march/may ? flies. Twice the size of standard ones, love to bite ankles, persistent, immune to bug repellent, around in their millions) stick strikes and scrapes from the pedals.

Now all I need is a pub which is close by which sells good beer and food. I may be on the road to recovery after that……