Back on the road

I thought the coastpath walk was over for me. My poor old knees were very painful after 16 miles of distance and 1240 metres of ascent. 

We would do tourism instead.

There are amazing things to see in Pembrokeshire - the wildlife and archaeology are right up my street. Yet all was dimmed for me by a pall of failure -  but for my knees we should have been striding along vertiginous cliffs, looking out for gannets and seals.

We visited Henllys Iron Age reconstructed village and Cilgerran Castle. There was a bit of scrambling about in ruins.

The next day we took a boat trip along the coast of Skomer Island, home to thousands of puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Afterwards, we went for a five-mile hike around a nearby rocky promontory.

That night I said to Nigel, 'Funny thing, but the last two days my knees have been perfectly fine.'

So next morning there we were, back on the coast path again, knees very firmly strapped. 

Because we had already booked our lodgings the logic of the trip meant we carried on not from where we stopped before, but from where we should have been. Meaning that one day we may feel compelled to return and fill in a two day gap near Fishguard. 

But as it is, I'm just happy we got back on the path.

Fun puffins

When my knees let me down and we abandoned our coastal walk, I said to Nigel, 'I remember you telling me about labrador dogs who train to be guide dogs for the blind. Some of them prove unsuitable and appear to live with a sense of failure ever after. Having dropped out of our walk I feel like one of those dogs.'

Nigel scratched his head to think what would cheer me up. 

He booked a boat trip to see the puffins nesting on Skomer Island.

There is nothing more cheering than a puffin. 

Like clockwork bath toys they bobbed in the waves with their clown beaks. Even better was when they flew, each flight so lacking in competence that it looked like it must be the first, their bright red feet stuck out at an ungainly angle, as if longing to land. 

So yes, the puffins made me smile, but even more cheering was the fact that they were part of a healthy colony.

The colony at Skomer is very successful as it is sited in a small no-catch zone where fishing is banned, as advocated by David Attenborough in his recent film, Ocean, and there is plenty for them to eat.

If we had more zones like that, my smile would run from ear to ear! 

With thanks to Graeme for his puffin photo.