Day 18 of walk, day 16 of actual walking. Perranporth to Portreath.

(No original photos here - using Internet photo of St. Ives).

Hard hard day. Already dead before got to the start of the walk as had to walk 3 kms from hotel down to the beach with a full pack today, after yesterday's light pack. My shoulders were so sore. It felt like stabbing just to lift both arms to take a photo! Hilarious. But I soldiered on. Saw a bus where I'd decided to abandon the walk after 8 miles ( 13 kms) and actually ran. But alas wrong bus. The one I needed is no longer x 4 a day, now twice. It was 1 pm and it'd come at 11 am and next one 5 pm. Boo hoo. So I kept walking. Was supposed to be 3 miles (5 kms) then a sign said 3 3/4 m then further on another sign said 4 m !!! What can one do but walk! And of course there were about 4 massively steep descents to streams then ascents after. Real doozies.
Sunny and windy again.
So a slow day again but I'm here.
I'm in a hotel and as I staggered in the door ( usually check in at the bar) a guy directed me to another door. He knew I wasn't there for a drink !!
It's a bigger village than I expected so need to go and look about.
Tomorrow there really is a train I can catch after about 18 kms. And I'm getting it.
Then I have a rest day. 11/6 Day 19. 17 of walking. Portreath to St Ives. 22.5 Kms. But I got the bus for 1/2 of it.

It was sunny but windy yet again. More ups and downs. I took short cuts up the hills cutting off the zig-zags but not on the down hills. Nothing exciting today, more coves and long beaches. I took a short cut thru a paddock and had a dozen cows rushing over to me. Wasn't sure whether to be scared. They didn't care about me shouting and waving my poles at them. So I sped up and eventually they lost interest.
The reason I was hurrying was to get the bus. Thought I'd been too slow, then thought I had a chance. I hit the road at 11.15, asked people if they'd seen it. No. Hussled to the bus stop which said 11.15, and it was now 11.25. Waited as thought it may be late. Gave up and started walking the next 8 Kms to a definite bus/train station. And then after a couple of Kms along came the bus! I waved it down nearly crying. And he stopped!!!!! Then there may have been a tiny tear!! He said the schedule was wrong! Oh I was so grateful and got it right to my hotel in St Ives!!! Of course my room wasn't ready so I sat in the lounge on the iPod drinking a cuppa from the thermos as hadn't had a break all AM. Then did the washing and ventured out. But it started raining and as I only have 2 sets of clothes and I'd washed 1 set I couldn't get the other lot wet so returned to my room as soon as I'd bought dinner at the supermarket. Day off tmw but will look at the town plus find the exit route as don't want to wander about with my pack on the next day. It's supposed to rain tmw , even storm in the PM.