North Cornwall Day 4 - Trevone (Padstow) to Newquay

North Cornwall Day 4 - Trevone (Padstow) to Newquay (Pentire)

Trevone, Porthcowan, Bedruthan Steps, Mawgan Porth, Porth, Newquay, Fistral Bay, Pentire

Plenty of miles today, but easier walking as there were not so many severe ups and downs. Fantastic coastline again, but we got caught in a downpour for about an hour - made a refreshing change actually so we didn't really mind too much - One thing that it did, was to fire up the waves to put on a spectacular show as they battered the rugged Atlantic coastline of Cornwall.

When we arrived at Newquay it was a disappointment - broken glass, drunks, puke and tat. Stag and Hen groups everywhere and cheap 'Pubs', we made the right decision in not staying there for our night out as it was rough. We walked further round the coast to Fistral Bay and picked up a taxi to The Falcon Inn at St Mawgan, another place I stayed in my childhood and had really fond memories. It was a wise choice, an excellent Inn and we had another great night.

I did have a problem developing though. I have a weak spot on my foot between two of my toes, which is prone to blister. A few years earlier a blister on this toe got infected and although I tried to walk, the pain was so severe, it was impossible to attempt the fell walk. I hobbled for a hundred yards and then returned to my car. Antibiotics were need to sort it.

Now, the same blister had developed and burst and was now beginning to bring significant pain - I laid in bed trying to work out what I could do, doctors in the morning - but we needed to walk all day to the next stop and it was looking like I wouldn't be able to do it. Every hour the village bell tower sounded as I was unable to sleep - but at 3am exactly, I felt a strange 'pins and needles' sensation coming from the affected area - tingling and an immediate reduction in the discomfort. My problem had gone ! It was as if my defence mechanisms had defeated the developing infection and returned to normal. I fell asleep and was fine in the morning.

That was a close call and I know it, I have special silicon mouldings now which I put between those two toes and they work perfectly - without them I'm sure, long distance walking would not be possible.