Day 01: 24 Mar 2014; Lizard to Marazion

Walk descriptor	LEJOG2014		Day	01
Date	Mon 24 Mar 2014		Start to end time	09h 18m
Start point	Lizard		End point	Marazion
Miles today	25.42		Cu miles	25.42
Ft today	6,186		Cu ft	6,186
Route miles left	1,441.89		Route ft left	186,223
Today’s weather	Rain all day. Strong to gale force south easterly wind. A glimpse of sun at 2 pm for 5 mins. Cool – about 7C

Today’s location (the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment)		GPX based track of today’s walk (click here to access to access downloadable file)

Commentary

“First day of the “end to end” hike and a bit of a challenge, in more ways than one.

After the initial euphoria of actually starting had subsided (that lasted about 5 mins!) the rest of the walk was a bit of a trial of strength. First was the weather – it had started dull and overcast with drizzle, but by 9 am, after an hour’s walking, it was pouring down and the wind had picked up to gale force. The only saving grace was that the wind was, unusually, from the South East, which meant I had it on my back for most of the walk.

The other challenge was the walk itself. I knew it was going to be a tough start, but I hadn’t anticipated the amount of up-and-down climbing that the route would entail. My GPS at the end showed that I had actually climbed, according to the Ordnance Survey data, just over 6,000 ft. It will make Ben Nevis seem like a walk in the park.

The going underfoot wasn’t too bad – not as muddy as the Chilterns, but still a few wet stretches which ensured saturated boots and socks.

The seascapes were pretty impressive with massive waves whipped up by the wind. Nobody about apart from a geology field trip of students from Birmingham University near Miullion Bay. It always seems to rain on geology field trips!

Tomorrow promises to be even longer and hillier so am spending the evening in the Kings Arms in Marazion doing some hasty route adjustments. I’m trying to see if I can cut off some corners on the way to St Just, without missing out the main highlights of the route – Mynack theatre and Land’s End. Next instalment tomorrow night!
”

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


The start of the walk at Lizard. Note the sea, designed for water-skiers	Muddy path with stepping stones which have the same grippy-ness as well greated teflon

“Parking solutions”? Ah I see – a car park	Loe Bar with Carminloe Creek

St Michael’s Mount from Marazion	At Dove Meadows camp site – with human being for scale to dispel myths that my tent is huge..

Panorama of Kynance Cove