Short take: lovely hike over moors and along the River Barle... and we beat the rain again!
I woke up this morning feeling completely recovered from the exertions of two days ago, despite walking yesterday, which is encouraging, since I have a hike in Appenzell planned for July with a number of 8+ hour days and it is good to know that I seem fit enough to handle them. While on a long hike like this the outside world is sort of put on hold, both because one is always doing something... hiking, showering, eating, sightseeing, talking or playing games, packing, unpacking, and sleeping... but also because one can't do much about anything else anyway. However, today is our second to last hike, and that is perhaps why my thoughts are turning to the future.
I've very much enjoyed this hike... in every respect, from my fellow hikers to the people we have met, the countryside we have hiked through, the villages, churches, gardens, and stately homes we have visited, and the places at which we've stayed and eaten. But it will be good to be home. I often say to people that one of the great things about hiking is that it makes you appreciate everything else so much more... whether it be food, being in bed, taking a warm shower, sitting down, or going home.
But today was still a hiking day, so hike we did... and very nice it was, particularly in the afternoon when we walked for an hour and a half along a lovely stretch of the River Barle from the Tarr Steps to Withypool (the village where we are staying for the night). The Tarr Steps are especially interesting: an ancient clapper bridge across the river, made of great slabs of stone supported on boulders through which the river flows. Its age is unknown but might go back as far as the Bronze Age.
There was just a little drizzle for a bit as we walked along the riverside, but not enough to bother putting one's rainjacket on. However, 30 minutes after we arrived, around 3PM, heavier rain started to fall... just like yesterday. Overall we have been immensely fortunate with the weather... I think that there has only been one day where we hiked the whole day in rain, and otherwise there have just been a few showers during hikes. It hasn't been exceptionally sunny (although I have quite a strong tan on face, arms, and lower legs), nor very hot, and there were a few very windy days, but it is rain that makes or breaks a hiking trip and in that respect we have been lucky.
We'll have dinner in the local pub tonight, and tomorrow walk the rest of the way to Lynmouth and the end of the hike.
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