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Sunday 27th August 2006 - Tintagel to Minehead I said my second and final farewell to Kate in sunny weather (see the cheesy photo) and after a late start made some fast progress along A39 (Atlantic Highway) all the way up the North Coast to Bideford, where I joined the Tarka Trail to Barnstable for lunch. The climb up onto Exmoor was long and hard going for about 5 miles. I stopped at a village at what seemed to be a bikers festival happening in a pub to refill my bottles, since the only shop was shut. I got strange looks at the counter, presenting my bottles amongst the beer fuelled revellers; I was a different variety of biker entirely. The view back upon reaching the first high point on Exmoor, gave me a last glimpse towards Dartmoor and home. I had a long (almost 10 miles) descent from Wheddon Cross down to Dunster then Minehead, where typical fashion, the hostel was situated a mile uphill on a stony track. I was too late for dinner, but managed to rustle up a rudimentary meal of beans, tuna, and toast and supplemented with a glass of wine from family staying there. I later had the nightly routine of cleaning and changing the dressings on my grazes to prevent infection.
Farewell to Kate The view off Exmoor back towards home
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Distance: 90 miles
