Photograph Gallery Stage 75 Indian Queens to Truro : Walking Englishman's 1000 Mile Walk

Photograph Gallery Stage 75 Indian Queens to Truro

Posted by Mike on Sunday, October 9, 2011 · 2 Comments

Photograph Gallery Stage 75 Indian Queens to Truro, Sunday 7th August 2011

The Story:

With just three stages of the 1,000 mile to go I was beginning to feel pangs of emotion on what had gone before in the previous seventy seven days, seventy four of them spent walking down the length of Great Britain and the other three spent resting or recovering from the physical effort. Now I was lean though, more than two stones lighter and physically much stronger having spent many moments and many miles grinding out the steps and simply struggling to keep going. Not so now, and moreover I was now buoyed by the company of not just Strolling Steve but by my brother Dave joining us until the end in three days time and by Harrogate pal Chris Farmer (rejoining after walking the stage from Hebden Bridge to Diggle), his son Callum and a friend of his too. Walking in company is great and even better in such fun company.

We set off from Indian Queens on a day of roads, paths over fields and bridleways, typical of central Cornwall which is remarkably shy of trails and paths away from the its famous coast path. Indeed it was on paths along the road from the start as we marched off from Indian Queens, through Fraddon, through Penhale, through St Enoder and all the way to Mitchell. That first four and a half miles was spent happily enough though. There was vitually no traffic on the roads, the sun was shining, the conversation was good and after a short ninety minutes we crossed the roadbridge over the A30 and into Mitchell from where we finally left the roadside to follow a sunken green avenue up a moderate but constant incline to emerge into wide open space of green fields, the first one of which we stopped to take a first break of the day. The conversation had by the walking group was rich in subjects like the news, the financial markets, the politics but of course in subjects close to our hearts too – beer, pubs, music, etc.

After the break we followed the path over a couple of fields to cross a road then along a lane edging Hendra Wood which took us to Trewaters Bungalow from where we were back onto tarmac via minor roads running parallel to the A39. This direct course southwards took us to the village of St Erme where we visited the local shop to stock up on grub for dinner which we took after walking down a lane towards Treworgan. During this second break we spoke more of the same, some serious talk and some trivial talk. Of course nature came into it and our immediate surroundings which included a conversation on the health benefits of Blackberries which most of us enjoyed from some bushes beside us.

After our second stop we continued on to Treworgan where we walked into a quarry and stone works. We marvelled at the labour of craftsmen making such interesting and useful articles from blocks of stone. There was much to enjoy. Up to this point the weather had been fair with good sunshine early on but the mood of the day was changing and by the time we left the quarry and reached Bishop’s Wood rain had started to fall. The rain wasn’t light, it was a proper summer downfall and even the canopy of Bishop’s Wood and then Lady’s Wood didn’t keep us sheltered from the storm. We just kept going through it and eventually emerged from the woodland at Idless from where we followed a road for two further miles until we reached Truro. We arrived in the city centre drenched but the walk was done and we quickly decamped to a coffee shop to dry out and plan logistics as Chris and the boys had to get back to his van in Indian Queens. We got sorted, the van retrieved, their accommodation in nearby Falmouth sorted, our digs in Truro identified and then in the evening we met up in Truro for a few drinks and planned the next day. Today wasn’t a remarkable walk in terms of paths and scenery but it was ok and after tomorrow the coast beckons. Nearly there, two stages to go…..

The Photographs: