23rd and 24th February 2022

 Wednesday.

Managed a small walk today. Freezing cold.

Completed 1.5 Miles

Thursday. 

Russia invades Ukraine.

Covid restrictions ended! It hasn't gone but masks only have to be worn at your own discretion. We have to take into our own hands how to deal with the pandemic.

Walk down to the local market, still freezing wind. Janet and Terry here for lunch. 2nd walk into the village.

Completed 2 Miles. Total 84.8 Miles. 

Carrying on the South West Coastal Path, we are now stood next to Droyden Castle - owned by the National Trust. " intriguing cliff-top fantasy fortress. It was owned by Samuel Symons, an infamous bon-viveur, in around 1830 as a place to entertain his friends. Now, it plays hosts to an eccentric one-bedroom holiday home full of quirks from its past. Inside you’ll find arched gothic windows, a cosy open fire and even the original wine bins in the cellar. 

It’s set on a secluded headland of Port Quin where you’ll be encompassed by jewel coloured ocean views. Walk down the hill to Port Quin’s sheltered inlet where you go rock pooling, kayaking or fishing. 

For longer walks you can loop onto the South West Coast Path, which runs just past the front door, and hike to the higgledy-piggledy lanes of Port Isaac. To the east, you’ll find surfing beach Polzeath and foodie hotspot, Padstow."

It is available to book to stay £1599 per week (for just 2 people), looking on their website, there is no availability even up to 2024!!

Photo taken by Joe Bernatzani

18th February to 22nd February

 Well as you know we are fair weather walkers and after Storm Eunice we haven't been out much. 

Colin had to have a Diabetic review and tried to convince the nurse that fruit loaf every morning is 1 of his 5 a day!!!!

On Sunday 20th February 

My sister Janet and her husband Terry re-made Christmas dinner for us because we missed it due to covid. Me, Colin and George adorned our Christmas Jumpers making everyone feel stupid not wearing one. Ha ha. The meal and the day was fantastic with a Christmas quiz and charades.

Selfie Photo taken by George Green 20 Feb 2022 

Monday 21st February 

Finally managed a small walk through the village.

Tuesday 22nd February 2022. Today at 2 minutes past 10 it will be 22:02 22 02 2022 known as a palindrome. Happy Twosday.

Completed 2.5 Miles. Total 81.3 Miles. 

Monday to Thursday

Well we are going to get in trouble from Alan who has been following our blog and it has come to a standstill. 

While Dad is still in hospital I went to visit Stuart, we have all been bobbing in to make sure he is ok - well, he is loving having the house to himself, no need to worry. 

Rain and high winds have put us off our walks this week. There was a slight gap in the weather today so we braved it to go around the park noticing a few trees down! They might be older trees but one of them had its roots up in the air. 

Next to the park along the farm track we noticed a large fir tree in the garden of the last house of Willows Park Lane with a third of it ripped off! Should have taken a photo.

We only managed to get in 2 miles today - never mind. This gets our total to 78.8 Miles.

Day 34 & 35

 Saturday 12th February 2022.

Colin injury, swollen toe and knee. Quiet Day today - or so I thought. 

My sister Janet got a 5am call that Dad had fallen and was in pain. They got him back into bed with some pain killers. When she went back to see him later he couldn't take any weight on his leg - she rang 111 and they sent an ambulance and took him in for X-rays, Scans and CT scan. They found a fracture on his hip and a chipped bone so they kept him in overnight.

Sunday 13th February 2022.

Our Grandson Thomas' 7th birthday. 

Janet messaged us all to say that Dad, who is 86 years old, is being operated on tomorrow! Yikes. Get well soon Dad. 

Day 32 & 33 Total 76.8 Miles

 10th February 2022.

One month since we started.

We have been watching the Winter Olympics from Beijing. Loved watching the snowboard cross where 4 of them race down a track. Also watched some Ice Figure skating and of course the fabulous curling. Colin had a realisation when he noticed that some of the gold medal winners were born after he retired in 2004!!!!!

So today we managed to walk towards Sainsbury's and a quick call in to Debbie's house to talk to our Grandchildren through the window as they are still locked in and isolating from Covid. Saw their new dog Loki, they now have 3 chihuahuas whose names all begin with the letter 'L' - Lily, Luna and Loki, plus 2 cats. 

Archie's voice is so low now that Pops sang 'I was born under a wandering star' to him, but he had no idea what he was talking about. Alfie now has very long hair and we told him that he looked beautiful and all the girls will be chasing him when he is back out of lock down. Of course little Violet (who is not that little anymore) sent Pops a fabulous birthday card with a pop out cake and candles on and a message 'I didn't know you were this old but you are looking good for 70'. Missing giving them all a cuddle.

From there we went down Half Penny Lane and around back to the village.

Completed 3.7 miles Total 72.8

11th February 2022.

Slight bit of sunshine today but still cold - bob hats and scarves on. Decided to go up to the top reservoir, the road past the holiday park was shut diverting all traffic up the other road. Stopped off near the top white house to see the view and saw these 2 little beauties, one dog has had a hair colour yellow and the other one pink!

Photo by Penny Green February 2022

Up the road and through the small joining road but all the diverted traffic was making us constantly have to move over onto the grass verge. We went through Greenbank Park and walked all the way round but noticed some signs.

Photo by Penny Green February 2022

Not too happy about this as it stops us in the future from having a circular walk all the way round.  

Completed 4 miles. Total 76.8 Miles.

We have got to Padstow and across the ferry and are now in Polzeath. 

Next Leg completed on Google map.

Break Time

6th & 7th February 2022.

Well rain stopped play. Not been out, the weather has been awful.  

8th February 2022.

Still raining. Hospital appointment at 7:30pm for x-ray on teeth. Arrived at RPH (Royal Preston Hospital) and there is a massive marquee tent in the car park at the front of the hospital (one of the Nightingale Hospitals set up in the event of a further Covid-19 outbreak), and the walkway through from Booths is blocked. Had to walk all the way around to the main entrance in the pouring rain. Only a 20 minute visit to x-ray and then of course we had to walk all the way back. Not allowed my fitbit on (no metal items) so we are claiming 1 mile.

9th February 2022.

Colin had an early morning blood clinic to attend. The weather has finally picked up. Drove to Preston to visit my Dad and Stuart but had to go through all the country roads due to 'total gridlock' through Preston City Centre. Apparently they are building a cycle way! On the way back it was glorious sunshine and we passed our Cousin on his electric bike just coming into Longridge. He must have been doing some speed because by the time we arrived home and Colin had gone through the house and opened the garage door, Alan was there at the front door. He has been following my blog and calls it 'Le Blob'.

After Alan left we did a small walk around the park, we couldn't get all the way to our view because the path was so muddy after all the rain.

Completed 1.5 miles Total 69.1 Miles

Arrived at Tregurrian, quite close to Cornwall Airport, Newquay.

Photo: Misty morning at Tregurrian by Gingernut2007 taken on 15 Mar 2010

Day 25 / 26 & 27

3rd February 2022.

Got delayed filling this in. Thursday (today is Groundhog Day). A quick visit to the local market first. Then managed to walk all the way round Mile Lane.

Completed 4 miles. Total 62.4 Miles

4th February 2022.

Stop off at St Lawrence Church just to change the Altar Cloths. Then we headed out to Blackpool for a bit of shopping. 

The saying is that if it is raining in Longridge it will be clear at Blackpool and it was. There was a strong and cold wind as we tried to walk on the front, (freezing cold). 

Completed 4.2 Miles. Total 66.6 Miles

Photos by Penny Green Feb 2022

5th February 2022. 

Raining today so a quiet day in. 

We have now arrived in Treyarnon, Padstow. 

Photo by Charlesy

COLIN'S 70th BIRTHDAY

 1st February 2022. 

Only a small walk around Ribchester after a birthday meal for Colin at the Ribchester Arms. 

Completed 2 miles. 

Because of his birthday Colin has said that we can stay at the most expensive hotel in Cornwall. It is the Lewinnick Lodge £290 for the night.

VIRTUALLY!!!! Ha ha.

Photo from The Lewinnick Lodge

Day 24

2nd February 2022. (2/2/22)

God daughter Lydia married fiance Sam in Barbados.

Finally managed to get out for a walk just around the village.

Completed 1.5 miles. Total 58.4 miles. We have had to cross a ferry to Little Fistral Beach then into Newquay.