Walking With Seals: Day 1 Barnstaple to West Buckland: The First Day

Ken and Simon

For an OS map of today's walk, click here.

We are TIRED! But happy. Today's walk was longer than anticipated.

Setting Out from Herton Farm

We set off from our B & B around 9:00 a.m. after getting our host to take a photo of us. We met with the vicar of Trinity Church, Barnstaple, Simon May, and he sent us off with a prayer of blessing for the walk. We started walking at 10:00 a.m. The weather was great, though the wind was at times cool.

Wild Garlic above Landkey Brook

At the First Tarka Trail Waymark!

Highlights for the day: seeing the beautiful white clusters of flowers of wild garlic and enjoying the scent of it as well. The landscape of rolling hills and big blue sky. The seals putting their paws on the pawprint waymark of the Tarka Trail. Meeting a man who was trying to tame a vine maple and then having a friendly chat about walking. Singing the doxology in West Buckland church after trying to enter two other churches earlier in the day only to find them locked. Having a Devon cream tea on arrival at our B & B.

Funny moment of the day, though not at the time: Sitting outside of a pub and Ken somehow managing to pour a half pint of lemonade into his open backpack, much to his chagrin. (Note to North American readers: lemonade is a clear, carbonated drink like a dry 7UP, only better—in taste, not in a backpack!)

36,272 steps, 27.204km, 1123.6 cal
OS getamap-measured distance: 12.66 miles (20.38 km)