Distance: 18.7 miles
Time: 6 hrs 35 mins
Weather: Cloudy at first, hot and sunny later
Cumulative distance: 793.6 miles
Intensive map reading, a delightful picnic and yet another canal towpath.
I was awoken at 2.30am by the predicted thunder and lightning, but it was calm and dry by the time I was enjoying my full English breakfast. Mary, who runs the very comfortable Pyrland Farm B&B kindly donated some lunch items when I checked out.
I followed a fast route through residential areas around Taunton, then joined the West Deane Way, a 45 mile circular route which featured prominently on my Ordnance Survey map. Unfortunately, what did not feature prominently were signposts. For the next few hours I had to employ my map reading and navigation skills to plot the route of the footpath. At one point I had to wade through a field of barley and on a couple of occasions I climbed over barbed wire fences. Despite this, the route was scenic, passing through farmland, woodland and gently undulating hills.
I had my delicious picnic lunch in the picturesque village of Greenham - cheese and bacon quiche, tomatoes and home grown strawberries. Within a few miles I'd reached Devon, the penultimate county of my epic journey.
The final five miles were along yet another canal towpath, this time the Grand Western Canal. However, there were no canal boats to be seen.
Tonight's accommodation, the Globe Inn at Sampford Peverell, was located close to the canal. After yesterday's brambles and today's barley, the hot bath was most appreciated!
I enjoyed a very generous portion of lasagne, chips and salad, accompanied by a pint of award winning Otter bitter.
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