Day 48 was a rest day that was hijacked by a very good friend of mine Peter Mitchell, who insisted on taking me to lunch and shared dinner with myself and Dennis who arrived yesterday afternoon. Pete has been desperate to walk some of the legs, but for various reasons this has not happened but he has supported me all the way, especially with his knowledge of the coastline, my thanks to you Peter. Dennis and I set off on a very fine morning with a diversion of the coastal path taking us along the main road through Babbacombe, and then back toward the coast line past some fine properties backing on to the Torquay Golf Club. The section from Babbacombe to Teignmouth is described as strenous, and has over 2000 feet of assent. The roller coaster path takes you past Shag Cliff, Smugglers Hole and past Watcombe Head. Now Dennis and I have know each other since our eldest children started school together, and we had a lot of catching up to do. He is also a very fit person, still competing in Triathlons, and we chat happilly despite the severity of the up and down sections. We pass a monkey enclosure, in Maidencombe, and the woods are full of a complete variety of different birds, all singing contentedly on a lovely day. Blackallers Cove, is followed by Mackeral Cove and then Herring Cove (I am not making this up) and all require down and up progress. As we start to reach the end of Babbacombe Bay, we sight Teignmouth, which requires us to catch a ferry to reach, as we need to cross the River Teign. The ferry arrives and we pay the £3 to cross, landing outside the Teignmouth Lifeboat Station. We have covered the 6.5 miles to this point in good time, and it’s time for a break. The next section is to take us from Teignmouth to Exmouth, along a costline of high red cliffs. Teignmouth is quiet, nobody on the pier, one person in the sea, and not a boat, paddleboard, or Kayak to be seen, strange on such a calm day. The coastpatf dives slightly inland after we have negotiated the main railway line along this section of coast. Through a tunnel and then up over another climb where we meet a team trying to stabilise the cliff faces above the railway, well they appeared to be talking about it rather than doing it, what has happened to the construction industry. After another wooded area we drop down to Dawlish, famous for the storms that washed the track bed and sea protection away from the main line track. We sight a black swan, and what looks like a nice little town, but push on now along side the track for nearly two miles. Eventually we reach somewhere called Dawlish Warren, this is not a place I would be in a hurry to return to. A long walk along the estuary of the River Exe to try to reach a ferry at Starcross, we arrive at 15,13 as the 15.10 ferry is departing, and despite our plees we get a response of look at your watch from the crew. The next ferry is at 16.10, the walk around the estuary is 16 miles, so that’s not happening, and there is a pub five minutes up the road. So we call in for a quick refreshing beer, and then are back in good time for the 16.10, ferry, which is such a comforting sight, Exmouth is a good two miles across from the embarkation point. After landing a nice town feel greets us, and we make it to the hotel. My room is so small I think Iif I aim well I will not have to get out of bed to use the loo in the night, but it is a bed for the night. A long but interesting day, a great catch up with Dennis and a nice introduction for him to the path. Strava says 28 K, the official guide says 15 miles in total.