Day 7, April 18: Wankers

Weather Report: Overcast and cool, with a chance of sun later in the day.

Up early, feet taped, great breakfast, out the door to catch the bus to Okehampton so we can hit the trail north and rack up some miles.

We were sitting at the Tourist Information Center waiting for the bus. Double decker shows up, sign says Out of Service. Driver comes out and Murray politely asked if this bus will go to Okehampton. Driver looks down his nose and responds with a nope, then goes into the men’s loo (and hopefully pisses all over his shoes). Another bus comes and so I’m sent to ask the driver. He says, no, and by the way this is not the bus station, it’s up through town that way. Much obliged to get helpful information, we head off. I mentioned how the first driver could have been just as nice. Murray responds “When ye get a wanker, ye get a wanker. They’re everywhere.” Say no more.

Sitting on the bus, we are looking at the trail plan for the day and realize that if we go to Exeter, we have a more direct trail north. Plan adapted again… good thing the bus we were on went to Exeter.

From Exeter, we headed north along the river, past some neighborhoods, on to a Public Path, through some trees, over some stiles, through fields filled with mud and more cow-dookie – but, the sun was shining. Glorious!

We stopped for a bite in a little place called the Agricultural Inn in Brampford Speke. Quaint little village with lots of thatched roof houses. We were totally energized as we clicked through the miles, only to find out there was an accident on the road we were headed to and they had closed down the bridge. Plan adapted again.