Tue Jan 17, 2017 @ 10:56

Days 4+5, 21+6 miles, 106/643 complete

Day 4 started in the rain with several miles of shingle underfoot. This stuff is awful to hike on as it forces you to take small, flat-footed steps. Try to stride out and you end up wasting energy as the pebbles shift under your feet.

Then I left my gloves on a bench when changing out of my waterproofs, tore my trousers on barbed wire climbing a stile and twisted my knee on a couple of downhill slips. Bad things happen in threes and by the time I got to Charmouth I was looking forward to a warm pub and a pint. Then I saw the "closed for 3 days" notice. OK.. 4.

Knowing the next section to Seaton was technical and with it getting dark, I decided to camp out and found a great spot under a conifer between two roads. There were lots of cars passing but no pedestrians, plus the tree branches almost reached the ground with just enough clearance by the trunk for my tent. I also found out my gaiters make a good groundsheet for the doorway.

Day 5 started off misty and wet. I packed up and set off to Lyme Regis, but as soon as I stepped away from the tree a spear of pain shot through my knee. I took some ibuprofen from my medikit and limped the two miles into town. Initially I thought I'd have to take a zero day, but as the painkillers kicked in I found it easier to walk and after several coffees I decided to carry on and clear the tough section to Seaton.

Going slowly and watching every step I got through the innumerable climbs, dips, steps, twists and tree roots and got to Seaton by dusk. It was still raining and getting cold so I found the nearest bar and booked into a hotel. Once there I washed and dried all my kit, sewed up the tears and got some new gloves from town.

All set for the next 100 miles.