A very hot and sunny finish to the SWCP walk

To round off the blog of the walk. Nifty Nev and Sidemoor Sid, together with Nifty Nev's daughter, Cathy (who walked two stages with Nev & Sid), finished the South West Coast Path walk on Sunday 31st May 2009. In sweltering heat and sunshine the intrepid walkers walked a sweltering and busy Studland Beach and finally stood to have photographs taken at the Start/Finish sign. Then it was off for a well-earned pinta, fish and chips. And to make sure the walk was rounded off - and a paddle (to cool the feet) and sandcastle making!

The finish of the walk seemed to come very rapidly. In the final week, Nev and Dawn were joined by daughter Catherine and granddaughters Hope and Evie and met up at East Fleet Farm campsite at Chickerell, near Weymouth. To make sure that they could finish on time, Nev and Sid had had to walk some longer stages towards the end, but it all went well, and the extra miles paid dividends. The last two days were shorter walks, just as well, because the weather went very hot.

So, WELL DONE OUR TWO HEROES, and well done Cathy for her contribution to the walk.


Credits and thank you:

This blog, in the main, has been kept up by Diamond Dawn (when she could find internet access). Nifty Nev contributed the content along with Sidemoor Sid for you to read. Our esteemed thanks to Karen Dewson, for her help to set this up, and help to record the blog and post photos, when all else failed! Thank you to the many people along the way who stopped to talk to Nev and Sid. The memories are all very special. Thank you all.

Friday 22nd. May 09

Budleigh Salterton to Salcome Regis.

Before they left, Dawn took some photos of S&N with many of the bears who live at Pooh Cottage. Sid said he had enjoyed his visit and thought it was 'really cool' to meet so many bears together at one campsite.

The life of a bear...

Nev and Sid are heading from Shaldon to Budleigh Salterton. Sid is quite excited as they will be staying at a campsite at Pooh Cottage in Bear Lane! (How about that for a coincidence?). This was a great day for the little bear as he arrived to meet many friends at a 'real' bear campsite!!! and Dawn is hoping to post up some photos of the site and the bears that live there.

N&S caught two ferries today; one from Shaldon to Teinmouth and later in the day from Starcross to Exmouth and they met some very friendly people from Bromsgrover and Alvechurch in the West Midlands aboard the Exmouth ferryboat. Through the day the sun was shining and the walking was great - maybe, at last the weather is improving. Nev had memories of previous his exploits in this part of the country when he met Dawn in Dawlish and walked part of the Exe to Axe running race that he completed in last place a few years ago. In the evening we had a meal at the 'Dog & Donkey' pub in Budleigh and managed to come last in the local pub quiz - it seems to be the place for Nev coming last? Still, they each won a bag of crisps!

20 May 2009 - The windy coast

Nev and Sid have been having to hold on tight to each other for the past 4 days. The wind has been more than a little frisky. Hopefully things will improve for the spring bank holiday.

The recent week has seen our duo clinging to the cliffs. But the views are terrific. From Salcombe, through Start Bay, through Dartmouth, through Brixham, through Torquay, and by the end of today will amost have reached Teignmouth. Nev and Sid saw a man climbing a vertical rock face on one of the cliffs above Torquay. Nev took some amazing photos. So we'll try and get one posted to the blog.

This week will have seen them through the 500 miles walked mark. Almost sad to think, the end is almost around the next headland!

Friday 15th May 2009 - Sunny Kingsbridge

Well - it is normally sunny Kingsbridge, but not today.

The past week has seen Sid and Nev move on a pace. They crossed over from Cornwall into South Devon on Wednesday, having walked through Plymouth Hoe and shared several ferry journeys. Wednesday was also notable as having walked through the 400 miles mark of the South West Coast Path. They are really getting up a head of steam now. Mind you, Sidemoor Sid seems to just want to play on all those lovely sandy beaches. But - what is a bear to do! He doesn't have much conversation with Nev some days, all he does is look at those maps and the tide tables. Has to take his boots and socks off some days to ford the rivers at low tide.

By tea time today Nev and Sid should be at Salcombe, another little seaside town.

Send you some photos soon.

Nev, Sid and Dawn

Looe - Sunny Monday 11th May 2009

Today, is a bright, hot, sunny day. Looe looks really nice. Nev & Sid are walking from Polruan to Looe and should reach here by teatime. Yesterday they walked through a place called Fowey (pronounced Foy), then caught the last ferry across to Polruan. They were met at the ferry by members of the Dewson clan i.e. Tony, Karen, Kirsty and Liam, not forgetting the dog. Thanks guys it was much appreciated by the walking duo!

Nev says they will have done 400 miles during the next couple of days, and we are not that far from Plymouth.

Past the half way mark!

Nifty Nev and Sidemoor Sid have now walked through the Half way mark. Yesterday poor little Sid nearly was a 'done for' Sid. As Nev and Sid were sitting on the Ferry from Falmouth to St. Mawes, Sid was almost devoured by a 'retired' greyhound - he spotted Sid on Nev's rucksack - and before you knew it, Sid was in the mouth of the greyhound. Nev managed to retrieve Sid in the nick of time - but Sid was upset by the experience. However, a bear on a ferry boat, seeing all the boats in Falmouth Harbour, he had soon forgotten the incident.

Today, Nev and Sid are just having a short circular walk from the campsite to Portscatho to Portloe and back, while Diamond Dawn has a short trip to Truro, and the Library and the Tourist Information Office. Very useful places to go.

Forestdale children, can you find Falmouth on the map?