Some Great People I Met (3)

Me with a fellow trekker - Christien from Holland - at Stoke Hartland campsite - she's ready to go but I still have some washing, charging and bits to do in prep for the next stage that I know is very tough (nothing new there then!).

Richard the ex police officer - walking the Cornish coast for a bowel cancer charity.  Assisted by his lovely devoted wife who follows him around the coast in her car!  Fantastic!  What a dedicated team.  Good on you guys.

I'm still plodding on, towards Bude which is at the end of that sandy bay behind me.

Christien does a little dance - not sure if it's Pink Floyd or Beethoven she's listening to but she's really looking good.  She tells me she needs to split because she wants more time alone :( - of course I understand this - isn't that one of the reasons we did this anyway?

OK - well - Goodbye again my fair Dutch maiden.  Text me if you get stuck.

Later, in Boscastle, we meet up again!  Purely by chance of course.  But soon we split again.

I walk on alone to Trebarwith Strand where I meet AD who also works in Unix and IT.  Let me know how the Brecon Beacons yomp goes!!!  Oh and OMG there's that Dutch wonder woman again!  I know she's trying to shake me off but I just keep ending up camping right next to her again!

My friend Steve alerts the newspapers that a Nutty man from Wiltshire is doing something nutty.  Hopefully no one will recognise me in those shades!

Some Great People I Met (2)

An Austrian walker stopped me near Saunton/Braunton and showed great interest in what I was doing.  We took each others photos and I waved back at him across the valley as I made my next ascent.  I can't remember his name - it wasn't an easy one to remember.  But hello whoever you were!

It had rained hard from Dawn until 5pm.  I was feeling jaded, washed out, low in spirits, low in energy.  I tried to cheer myself up by opening a tin of beans and sausages but I couldn't open it!  A lady called Gill stopped whilst walking her dog Charlie and tried to open the tin for me.  We began talking and the next thing I knew I was drinking hot tea in her kitchen where she lived nearby.  Thanks Gill for showing such warmth and kindness on this - one of my toughest days.  (I threw the tin away as I didn't see the point in carrying it further, having already carried it for 7 miles!)

Gill and Charlie

2 very friendly guys at Hartland campsite - was it John and Dave?  Had a joke with me as I stumbled off towards a pretty tough stretch to Bude.

Some Great People I Met (1)

It is impossible to forget moments like these.  This is me with an Unawatuna fisherman in Sri Lanka exactly one year after the Tsunami destroyed his boat and his livelihood.  Fishing was all he new.  He told me that he had suffered for many months to survive and rebuild his life.  At the time of this photo he had received a new fishing boat via International Aid and he wanted me to know how important that was to him.  He was a very natural and simple man, with a burning heart of gold.  There were oil candles burning around us, thousands of them - each one representative of a single person lost to the Tsunami.  How could I ever forget this brave man, this stalwart of human strength and courage?  I have included this photo as I think it really captured the moment and how we both felt.

The official start of my trek - Minehead - August 2010

3 days later I awake right here, after putting this tent up in the darkness (using a powerful head torch).

I spend some time drinking beer with the locals at the Hunters Inn.  Sorry I forgot your names.  But thanks for the company, humour and encouragement.  Maybe see you again next year!

I'm in shock!  Bring me another beer!

The beautifully positioned Hunters Inn, less than 2 miles from the cliff camp shown above.  Great beer, great food, great people!  And thanks for letting me crash out in your field.  Hello to the gorgeous barmaids too!  Wish I had your photos.

This man from Poole in Dorset stopped for a friendly chat a mile or 2 before my ascent of the Great Hangman (1000 feet summit).  His children were horseriding nearby.  He had a good laugh with me over my dread of the hangman and gave me TEN POUNDS towards the charity.

Kerry had traveled in India and was quite a laugh with her stories of Filth n Gloom and Combe Martians!
I had such a tricky time in the web cafe Kerry - I wasn't able to make the other pub in time to catch you and your friends - never mind, maybe next year?  And just where do you think your left hand is going?  Naughty!

A wonderful young chap called Zak (is that spelt right) and his Father - camping at Combe Martin. 
Zak had been stung by a wasp on his ear a day or 2 earlier - but the doctor didn't need to cut it off in the end.
I taught Zak how to get rid of wasps - the gentle way - hope you all got home safely.
Thanks for the bacon sandwiches - mmmmmmmmmm - just the job.

BACK AT HOME

Hello friends

I arrived back in Trowbridge at 9.30pm Wednesday and Steve treated me to a Chinese curry and chips!
lovely.

I was back behind my desk on Thursday and Friday - felt a little strange after 3 weeks in a tent on the wild cliffs but wow was it good to sleep in a real bed with real pillows and a nice warm shower in the morning!

Total miles walked was about 152, Minehead to Port Issac.  I have returned without injury and feeling much fitter than when I started, despite a few hair-raising moments!  I didn't hit my target of 302 miles (this time!) but I gained much knowledge about how to go about it next time.  I did in fact do this the hard way, the "real" way - without recourse to luxuries like Bed and Breakfast, luggage transfer - and did a mix of campsites and spontaneous wild camping.  I often drank water from streams (first treated/boiled), carried my own shelter, bed and half the food I ate.

I am currently engaged in sorting through photos, videos and voice recordings I made en route, with a view to making some compilations for youtube and this blog.  I am also enjoying being able to eat some food/calories without burning off the energy within hours - I lost over 3 quarters of a stone in weight in 3 weeks! (that's about  4.8 Kilos or 10.5 Lbs).

If you are one of the many fabulous people I met along the way please bear with me as I catch up and get organised.  Not a single day passed without reminding myself of the plight of the Tsunami orphans.  I had some great times, fulfilling moments, serious challenges, pain and pleasure too.  THE DONATIONS SITE IS STILL OPEN AND WILL BE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS YET.  SEE  http://www.justgiving.com/nigel-goodwin

ALL photos taken will be uploaded very shortly to  http://s775.photobucket.com/home/bigplateman
So if I took a photo of you en route - you should find it here - I don't think I lost any.

THANKS to everyone who helped in any way they could - support, Donations and so many words of encouragement along the way.

Regards, Nigel  (AKA nutty nige)

Count down

Hi guy's,

I received a text on Saturday telling me that he's ditch one of his t-shirts, purchased some new headphones in Bude and backed up his camera files. His headlight failed at dusk despite putting in new batteries and had to use his back up pack to make camp.

He's going to be walking from dawn to dusk from now on to try and cover more ground. His plan is to try to reach Padstow then catch the bus to Bodmin Parkway, train to Taunton and then home.

I received another text yesterday saying that his phone was working again now and that he had breakfast in Boscastle with Christine. He finally text me at 8.15pm telling me he was in a dip just past Trebarwith Strand and that was the last location I received. I should hear from him again by mid day tomorrow.

Well I guess it won't be long now before Nigel will be coming home again. We have booked a day out on a Barge this Sunday when we can chillout, drink beer and talk about recent events. A well deserved break I say!

I don't know if I will need to update you anymore before Nigel's return but if I don't, I would like to say "It's been a pleasure for Retro DJ to sponsor Nigel and I'ts been a pleasure keeping all you nutty Nigel fans updated on this blog".

Steve.
www.retrodj.co.uk

aborting this web cafe - too slow - it was quicker in Sri Lanka on dial up!

Hello from Bude

Hi it is Nigel here

have to be quick, as usual, gotta get back on path...

am uploading some more photos to  http://s775.photobucket.com/home/bigplateman

Pushing on this afternoon.... I am really enjoying the views, sounds and smells of the sea.  Every day comes with new unexpected challenges.  My feet are dyed black (die from wet socks), my feet feel like blocks of granite, my shoulders havent stopped hurting since Minehead, I havent heard or read the news since I left Trowbridge!!!, ...

and Steve my friend... I can't find time for too much romance, she is really great company and we look out for each other.  I cannot let romance sway me from the focus of my goal - to walk as far as I can, as safely as I can, and to get back unscathed.  I am sure this will be a lasting friendship, but remember what Rocky Balboa's coach said....."women weaken legs" - so far she has only given me strengh, and we laugh a lot.

The real x-rated version of evens can be found here.....http://www....oh know is that the time???!!! sorry gotta go, bye

NIGEL in Bude, Cornwall, Sat 11th Sep 2010