Today has been more about people than walking. Its filled me with delight, but also made me feel sad and powerless. Made me think I should be doing more.

I’ve definitely seen the best in people. But I’ve also seen people who are struggling, with addiction, with their minds. Just trying to make sense of what they feel and what life is doing to them.

I can absolutely empathise, I share some of those traits, but I’m lucky. I’ve got a good family, I was brought up in relative comfort, plus, and this is a big one, I was born at the right time. I worked hard for a living but no harder than someone who has so much less than me. Life, definitely, is not fair. We definitely don’t have equal opportunities. Being born earlier, or in a different place should not be an advantage, but it is.

I know this is just a blog about my walk, but my walk today put me close to people, and instead of learning that a lighter pack is better than a heavy one, or how to prevent blisters, I learned, first hand, that some people are struggling.

People are actually interested

I packed up early. Despite my new confidence about wild camping, I didn’t fancy hanging around today. Some joggers had already come past, which didn’t bother me, but I was just off the path and I didn’t want to be a nuisance, so was on my way around 6:30. Plus I wanted to get to Exmouth for breakfast and that was 8 miles away. So an early start suited me.

As I walked down the hill towards Budleigh Salterton I spoke briefly with some guys setting up for a 10k race. It wasn’t starting until 11am so I wasn’t going to be in the way.

The walk was nice and easy. My knee was twinging a bit which worried me, but I soon realised it was because I’d put my support on incorrectly. Minor adjustment later and I “skipped” down the lane.

Budleigh was nice. I liked it. It also had a tap. Shortly after I’d filled up a bottle a man and woman sitting together started asking about my walking poles. Pointing out there wasn’t any snow.

It was a really nice chat. I assumed they were a couple but now I realise I didn’t know that. He was quite young and worked but said he had his demons. Liked a drink a bit too much as well. He was really interested in my walk though and how I did it and the gear I used. Really nice people. They’d been up since 4am watching the sunrise. I think he was interested in doing something similar – so hopefully, if he can see that a normal bloke like me can do it, so can he.

He insisted I take some drink from him, which I tried to refuse, but he insisted. What a nice couple of people.

Lewis

I liked walking through Budleigh and then the footpath on towards Exmouth was great. There is a section through a big holiday park which isn’t quite so rural but that was ok.

Between the holiday park and Exmouth I decided to stop and try to get a video uploaded. They’ve been a right pain so far, so as I noticed I had some reception I’d stop and let one upload and try not to touch anything. It seems like it’s easy to interrupt an upload and then it all starts over again.

While sat at a bench a guy walked by. He said it was lovely and he didn’t know why he didn’t walk up here more often. He said Exmouth had a bad name but it shouldn’t have. He then introduced himself to me as Lewis, apologised as he was ‘pissed’ and proceeded to talk to me for a bit.

I can’t remember exactly what was said or at what point, but after about 5 minutes he went on his way, only to plonk himself down next to me again a few minutes later, stating that he was sorry he was back, but I seemed interesting. I took that as a compliment.

Really, he just wanted someone to talk to. It was 9:30 in the morning so probably a little early to be drunk, but I don’t think he wanted to be in the state he was. Lewis had a job, lived with family, so he wasn’t lazy or anything like that. It seems that he’s made a couple of wrong moves in life, and I guess, especially with addiction, they lead to some more. He seemed likle a good lad. He was only 25. He did need some support though.

We must have talked for 30 minutes about various things. I don’t think I was any help. I told him 25 was so young and nothing was set in stone. We talked about walking, he talked about wanting to stop drinking. I told him it’s hard to give up things but he was right to want to. He talked about thinking it’d be better if he wasn’t alive. I said something, I can’t remember what, I was fairly useless.

People like Lewis need help. I think society write them off. Because they can be a problem I suppose. But he needs some hope back and I don’t think he can do that on his own. He did make me a laugh a little though, the whole time he was talking to me he was fumbling around in various pockets trying to find the papers to make a cigarette. I don’t smoke so I couldn’t help. He never did find them.

Eventually he left me, apologising for talking so much. I really didn’t mind. He asked if we could become friends on Facebook. I said I don’t use Facebook but gave him my web address to look up. I doubt he’ll remember it. I’ll be honest though, I feel bad I couldn’t exchange Facebook details. It’s sort of haunting me. Keeps on playing over on my mind. I hope he’ll be ok.

I have one glimmer. He said he didn’t often walk out of Exmouth and he said he couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. So maybe next time he wants a drink, he’ll take a walk instead.

Duncan

So I headed on towards Exmouth and, as you’d expect, there was a man playing bagpipes. I decided I must video him to put on my blog but as I walked past to get a view of him he stopped. Drat.

The he called out to me, said I looked like I was walking far. Well, I suppose I am, so we got chatting. No wonder I’m making slow progress, I’m constantly in conversion.

Duncan, the bagpipe player, was raising money for charity. Had been doing it for a while and had so far raised over £8000 pounds. Amazing. Really nice man as well and was interesting to talk to. I enjoyed our chat. He even played a tune for my blog for which I was very grateful. We even chatted a bit about Lewis. It was such a contrast. But sort of related.

Keep up the good work Duncan.

I eventually made it into Exmouth and grabbed some lunch and some food for later. Including some strawberries and then headed for the ferry. As I was walking along someone was shouting my name. I couldn’t work out where it was coming from but eventually looked up and it was Duncan. I was so happy.

He said he’d come down and play the ferry off. So, and I think this is so amazing, and to the delight of the other passengers, we got to leave the harbour accompanied by the theme from Starwars. Brilliantly played by Duncan. Thanks again, a real high point to the day.

An early shower

The walk through Dawlish and then along the railway line was easier this time. The diversions in place last time I walked it were gone and it flew by. I remember last time struggling here but this time I felt good.

I knew I was going to be too late for the Teignmouth ferry so had to walk the long way round, over a bridge, and then headed down the estuary towards a campsite. I arrived very early for me – 6:15 – so I had a chance to relax a bit. My battery banks were running very low as well and the kind lady at the campsite plugged one in for me in her house. That really helped me out became I think I would have run out of power on Sunday.