After excitement of the night before, I left the team sleeping in the flat and set out solo through the quiet streets of Bristol on Friday morning, ready for a whistle stop tour of the south west of the UK. Somerset, Devon and Cornwall in the busy summer holiday months are no place to be driving a car, so on this occasion, I let the train take the strain…

Bristol Temple Meads station was my first stop and the beginning of a super little adventure.

Booking a train ticket in the UK seems to be a bit of a lottery, but on this occasion the dice rolled in my favour. For reasons unknown, it was cheaper to purchase a first class than economy ticket to Cornwall! I was travelling very light, with just a pair of swimming shorts and a sleeping bag. Feeling very happy with the bonus first class accommodation, I settled in to a comfortable ride, with all its complimentary snacks and drinks.

The train ride was super scenic, and for a while was right in the waters edge by the high tide at Dawlish. A quick change in Plymouth (terrible news – no first class service available!) and then again in Liskard got me into the Looe Valley line for a final slow chug down to the seaside.

Despite making promises of turning up to Jen’s with afternoon pasties, the town of Looe was so busy, with lines of people queuing down the streets for the Cornish delicacies. I decided to waste no further time, so arrived sweaty and empty handed – we had to make do with rolls, cheese and salad, but plenty of good chat. I met Walter back on the platform as he arrived on the late afternoon train, then the three of us went out for dinner nearby. Wally and I checked out the live music scene in Looe before hiking the coastal path over to Milendreath for a late night guitar jam.

All great fun, which only stopped when I finally got to bed down between the nest of guitars, utterly exhausted while Wally played on! A long day…

Was lovely to start the next day right by the water on Saturday. We did our best to make an early start to get down to Penzance to see Janet, but the first train of the day was cancelled, and the next few delayed, which caused a fair amount of lost time, but gave opportunity for a nice coffee by the harbour, so not all bad.

Janet was on good form and was waving at us from the lounge window as we approached up the street. This time we had managed to source pasties, so had a nice lunch together and more chat about the old days and Pendor.

By further good fortune, we escaped from Penzance shortly before the entire cross country rail service shut down! Jenny provided a big pasta bake, before we returned along the coast on foot for more guitar action with the little and large Gibson Firebirds!

I didn’t think there’d quite be time for a swim in the sea as we headed over to the train station the next day, but the water looked so inviting!

On the spur of the moment, with only a few minutes to spare, I quickly changed into my shorts and ran across the freshly groomed sand and dived in – the warmest water of the summer so far!

We continued our walk to the station with dripping hair but feeling more energised… This has to be one of the nicest walks to a station platform in the country.

I bid my farewell to Wally, and reversed the journey back to Liskard. The next train was bound for London and totally crazy. The conductor said that there were 800 available seats, but we had over a 1000 passengers on board! I was able to sit until Exeter, but had to stand to final half hour to Taunton. Thirty years ago this summer I was on my first big expedition in the Arctic on the islands of Svalbard. My team buddy from back then, whom I’d not even seen in the last 15 years was waiting at the station for me!

We had a wonderful catch up lunch back at his house near Taunton before taxing me over to Pat’s in time for the Ilton Table Tenis Championships with Clare, Anna Anna and Pat. I was left feeling very lucky to have met such great people – the kind you can just pick up the conversation with after such lengths of time and who’d go out of their way to help transport me about!

Back in the car on Monday, we took a short tour around the very impressive Taunton School and I finally got to see Neil’s retirement legacy – the Mason’s Arms bar! (Yes, they have a 6th form bar at the school!).

Then it was up onto the Quantocks hills for a walk.

We just had time for dinner at Oake, before making a trip back up the M6 after dark. We reached a motorway travel lodge north of Birmingham just before midnight where we were very ready for somewhere to lie down for the night. The M6 northbound was closing completely at one point,but we snuck through as they were putting the final cones across the road! A close call!!

A totally whirlwind of fun, friends and family. Absolutely brilliant. And it’s not over yet! Next stop, Copenhagen for the last of the summer expedition adventures – this time travelling by bike!