Day Three: Hartford to Noss Mayo

Pics to follow

Another good night's sleep. Rain in the night, heavy at times. Woke at 6am, to the sound of hail banging against the side of the tent, so dozed and relaxed until it abated

There was a sharp pain between my fingers, and also the side of my neck. This unwelcome visitor was burrowing into me. Went to the toilet block to see what was going on with my neck, but that was all clear

Back to the tent for my tick removal tool, but the tick was in a very inaccessible place on my right hand. Chris tried to use the tick card to twist off the bug, but it was proving impossible to get a decent grip. The tweezers on my penknife were up to the job

Swiss Army Knife 1 Tick Removal Tool 0

We have somehow lidded ourselves that we have a short 12 mile day today, ignoring the two miles down to Ivybridge and the extra mile to our campsite at Noss Mayo. So we have a very leisurely start, drying off the tents in the warm morning sun and a second cup of tea after breakfast 

It's 9 o'clock before we're packed up and on the road

Crossing the bridge over the river Erme. In two days time we ford its estuary at low tide

I am about to pop into Morrisons to buy something for lunch, and decide I should check whether there are any local bakeries open

Warren's Bakery claims to be the oldest cornish pastie maker in the World, starting business in 1860. They open at 10, so we sit in the sun for a few minutes until opening time

Finally we are properly on the move, following the river Erme out of Ivybridge. It looks lovely place and everyone is cheerful and friendly 

After an hour it's time to brew up and a light snack. For me that's the Warren's sausage roll. Very tasty

We pass an honesty box offering eggs for £2 per half dozen. Just around the corner another honesty box is offering eggs for £1.50 per half dozen. Relieved that we hadn't bought earlier, we each buy six eggs

Going through the farmyard, we meet Rodney the kid goat. He was orphaned at an early age and hand reared. He believes that he is a farm dog, so watch out for Rodney the sheepgoat in a few years

If happy hens lay tasty eggs then we have just made a very good purchase 

The fun never stops at Fawns farm. I have been taking the opportunities offered by every rope swing that I have passed. But this must be the poshest

They also have entertaining goats

Including this fine specimen 

Today's walking is mostly on good paths, occasionally quiet roads, through rolling countryside 

We pass many old and interesting properties 

These frisky cows, backed up by a large bull in reserve, intimidate us off the path

We divert off the route at Yealmpton, to visit the Rose and Crown. They have good beer and a nice garden 

Lunch in the greenest of meadows, looking over gentle hills towards Dartmoor on the horizon 

We finally arrive at Noss Mayo creek, on the coast at last, and only one mile to our campsite 

Of course, it's an uphill mile, but the small campsite is a delight. As soon as I have put up my tent I head back down to the Ship Inn in Noss Mayo for my dinner

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