Log No 290. Sun 20th Apr 2014 - Teignmouth to Exmouth, 21 miles (4430 miles walked)

There was a bus I could get back to Teignmouth at 07.30 so it was an early start cooking the porridge at 05.30 and I was ready to take the tent down in plenty of time.

Enk, who was in the tent next to me, was up and made me a drink of tea while I took the tent down, he also gave me a donation.

It was dry but cloudy with darker clouds coming my way, the wind had also changed direction and seemed to be coming from the north.

I got into Teignmouth at 08.10 and nade my way to the sea front.

The path was alongside the railway lines on the seaward side but it was blocked off for repair work so I had to take an inland route and get onto the main road.

Enk had told me that the Coast Path in Dawlish was also closed for the same reason so I stayed on the main road until I got to Dawlish.

It was just after 09.00 and with my early breakfast I was feeling hungry so I picked up a bacon roll to eat while I walked, I hadn't quite finished it when the rain came.

When the main road turned away from the coast I was able to pick up the cycleway and minor road on the landward side of the railway.

I passed through Starcross at 10.40 so if I had carried on walking yesterday it would have been getting on for 18.30 before I got to the campsite.

The rain eased had off by 11.00.

After 5 miles the path crossed over the railway line and went on top of the river embankment and a mile further the Exeter Canal started, at Turf, the canal was right by the side of the river and the path followed the canal towpath.

I stopped for my second break at a swing bridge where a passenger ferry went across the river to Topsham. The rain started up again just as I finished my sandwich.

A half hour later I had passed under the motorway bridge and was on the road bridge over the River Exe into Countess Wear at 13.00.

I followed the cycleway signs along the streets and into Topsham.

It didn't show it on the map but there was a recently created cycle/path route alongside the railway line to Exton to meet up with the existing cycle route.

Just before Lympstone the path passes the Commando Training Centre for the Royal Marines, there was no action there today.

I got into Exmouth at 15.40, the nice flat course had allowed me to cover these 21 miles in a good time.

It was still pouring with rain and I needed to phone the campsite to check there was a pitch available. The battery in my phone was flat so I needed somewhere dry to change it.

After getting the food supplies in I went into a chip shop cafe for a Senior Citizen's fish & chips and a pot of tea for £5.50. I expected it to be a small portion but it was a reasonable size.

I changed the phone battery and called the campsite, explained what I was doing and got the directions for the site at Prattshayes Farm which was about a mile and a half away.

While I was putting my waterproofs back on the warden, Mary, phoned me back and said she would come and pick me up.

I hadn't realised the site was a National Trust one with a bunkhouse, this wasn't occupied tonight so Mary said I could have full use of it. Luxury.