Shona and Mike Take a Hike

  There is an old song recorded, I think in the 1960's, by a man called Jim Reeves, and if you remember him then you are as old as us. Anyway, one of the songs had the title: "A stranger's just a friend you do not know". On Sunday, we certainly met new friends, who up until that point were only strangers. We had intended to visit the Congregational Church in a wee village called Weviliscombe. I parked the van at one end of the car park, left Shona in the van and wandered around, probably looking a bit "glaikit", to make sure I could park it without fear of being fined. When I was asked by a young lady, carrying a very big box of very yellow bananas, if I needed any help. I explained that I was parking up with the intention of going to Church, oh she said, I attend a community church in the village hall, and you are more than welcome to join us. I found out later her name was Lois, but there was just something about her demeanour. When I went back to the van ...

  Monday Week 3: Another week of walking lies ahead, today, Jane, who is an honorary member of the "Shona and Mike Take a Hike" team. Hmm when Jane joins us it seems to rain lol. We set off from Welcombe Cross, which is just inside the Devon border. Our morning's walk was very pleasant and we made excellent time, and had a break at a garden centre cafe' called the "Merry Harriers". Then things started to get tough, we joined the Coastal Path at Bucks Mills to make our way along to  Abotsham, oh dearie, dearie dear!!!  Due to the underfoot conditions it took us 3 hours to walk approximately 3.5 miles. Our way may have been physically and mentally arduous however, considering the reason we are walking, we realised that any discomfort we may have endured is absolutely nothing compared to anyone suffering from and undergoing treatment for cancer. There is no doubt we were tired, as can be seen from this very complimentary photo (NOT) of me, taken by Andrew, Shon...

  On Sunday we had a lovely day, we attended Carnhell Christian Fellowship, where we received a very warm welcome. The speaker preached from Exodus Chapter 4 verses 2 - 5.  He focussed on what Moses had in his hand, a simple stick. After Church a lovely couple who we knew, Philip and Pamela, treated us to Sunday Lunch. It was yummy and the Christian fellowship even better.   What a difference in the weather for our walking this week. The waterproofs have been surplus to requirements, thankfully.  Having said that on Wednesday, part of our route was through, what can only be described as a mud bath, at one point we had to plough through ankle deep mud. I of course was singing :"Mud glorious mud, nothing quite like it for cooling the blood, so follow me follow, down through the hollow, and there we will wallow, in glorious mud. Shona was NOT impressed....hahahaha Another thing Shona said was, "every time there is a down, there seems to be an up". Welcome to Cornwall! I...

  On Monday afternoon, Shona and I got a lovely surprise when Andrew, Jane, Mirran and Lila, their black labrador turned up to see us off from Lands' End. (for those who don't know Andrew is Shona's brother, Jane his wife and Mirran is their youngest daughter, I'm sure you've guessed Lila is their dog. The weather was certainly not at it's best, to be frank, although I've never actually been called Frank, a Michael, Mike, Hamie, or Hams is quite normal, even if I'm not, but never Frank. (I hope you get that joke!). Anyway I digress, again, the weather at land's End was awful, driech, to say the least, and "blowin' a hooley" but we were glad to finally get our boots on the ground despite the weather. After getting the Tourist Information to stamp our "Transit Verification Form", basically this is a form that is used to verify the mode of transport taken to go from End to End in either direction. We made our way to the finger po...