Steve and I left our first class accommodation after a first class breakfast, stepping out to a lovely sunny morning. Our course took us on the Falmouth Road, southbound out of Cornwall's only city. We climbed as we walked to cross the A390 near County Hall which gave us a great view back down to the city centre and to the towering spires of Truro Cathedral. It was an impressive sight.

After crossing the A390 we started our walk along a long road to Penwethers and Pound Lane Farm two miles down the road. We walked vigorously along the road, putting the two miles behind us as quickly as we could. The quite road, more like a lane, was pretty enough. It was typically festooned with trees on either side and providing us with the complementary dappled overhanging canopy we had become used to in the quiet country lanes of the southwest. We did come across one out of the ordinary sight on the walk though. some joker had walked a shopping trolley about a mile out of Truro and left it on the road. We pushed it to the side.

Near to Pound Lane Farm we had a great view to the Carnon Viaduct which supports the Truro to Falmouth Railway Line. We had followed a parallel line to the railway from Truro and at times we could see it alongside us while walking along the road. It is known as the Maritime Line. After reaching Pound Lane Farm we left the tarmac road for a short while to cut through an unmade avenue to reach a road leading past Tailings Dam. The dam is an earth-fill embankment dam used to store by-products of mining operations at Wheal Jane, a disused tin mine. At least our walk along roads was showing us plenty of local industrial heritage. So far we had seen a railway line, a viaduct, a disused tin mine and a dammed slurry pool. We descended the road to cross the Carnon River before climbing back up the road on the south side of the river to Coldwind Cross. Another two miles of walking the lanes and the roads of Cornwall led us to Ponsanooth.

It had been 9.00am when Steve and I had set off from Truro. It was 11.30am when we walked into Ponsanooth where CJ and Dave were waiting for us. They were sat on a bench outside of Kennall Vale School and they greeted us with a smile. Or was it a smirk? We had walked seven fast miles in two and a half hours to rendezvous with them. They had done no walking at all so far today. At least though they had met us just before the serious work of the day. A good climb was required to get us from Ponsanooth towards Gweek.

The next three miles of walking was all uphill and the first half mile a steep climb of over 100 metres up Cot Hill. After Tregoose House we reached a junction in the road and left the tarmac to follow an unmade lane towards Tory Farm. After the farm the lane became quiet fairytale with ancient trees, mainly Beech, writing their limbs in all kinds of fantastic shapes. What kind of conditions cause the trees to make such intricate contortions up here?

We continued along the ancient unmade lanes from Tory Farm to Roseath where we crossed another of the country roads which criss-crossed the countryside in this part of Cornwall. There seemed to be a road linking every farm with its neighbour, rather than having the long private access lanes between farms which I am familiar with in the north. After crossing the road we did walk along a farm access lane though, to Trevales Farm. The path took us through the farmyard where we met a friendly Saddleback sow pig. It was so friendly that it took a particular liking to Dave. As we walked through the farmyard it decided to follow him. As we walked from the farm it continued to follow and despite Dave saying "Go back, shoo" and any other pig command he could think of it made no difference. The sow clearly fancied him. He took the only course of action remaining and turned back, leading his new friend back to its farm yard. He must have distracted it then as he returned to us alone.

In the next field we met another animal, this time a Black Hereford Bull. Fortunately he was about 30 metres away towards the middle of the field and attending his cows. He kept a close eye on us as we walked the short lane across the field edge while keeping a close eye on him. From the field we reached another stretch of road which we followed due south to Polkanuggo. I could not think these names up. At Polkanuggo the road forked eastwards while we left it to continue southwards on an unmade lane for half a mile to Polkanuggo. Yes, you read that correctly. We walked from Polkanuggo to Polkanuggo. It could only be in Cornwall. We crossed the A394 just west of Falmouth and climbed by minor road to the site of disused Kessel Downs Quarry which marked the high point of our walk, 190 metres high. Apart from a small up and over hump we had six miles of downhill walking to enjoy before reaching Gweek now. A mile down the road we came to a road junction telling us Gweek was five miles away. It also said Lizard 16". For the first time I had seen a physical indicator pointing to the end of my journey. It was quite a moment.

The sunshine which Steve and I had enjoyed when walking from Truro had been blocked by cloud around the midday hours but now at 1.30pm it was shining brightly again. The morning fast walk which Steve and I had made to meet CJ and Dave was now an amble. The four of us were in no hurry at all, strolling along the lanes on a sunny afternoon. Everything was bright, it was a lovely Monday afternoon. Even the sight of a warning sign at Halvosso Farm did not shake our joie de vivre. "Beware, Killer Duck" was posted on a gate at the farm. We sneaked past the terror. At the other end of the farm was an outbuilding fixed to the main house. The residents must have been small.

After following an unmade lane from Job's Water to Maen Cottage we walked the final few miles of the stage to Gweek by road. On the way we passed a Medieval Wayside Cross near Trewardreva Mill and Trewardreva Cross, another old road marker before reaching the village of Brill. There were lots of old stone markers in the area, probably needed by all the old pilgrims and merchants to find their way on these roads which criss-crossed each other. Not to mention the smugglers bringing contraband from the coast. We were not far away from it now. After passing one more junction at Carwythnack Chase we soon arrived in Gweek. Stage 76 was over, just one more to go.

To celebrate reaching the starting point of the final stage of the Great British Walk we had a night out in Falmouth. CJ, Dave, Steve and I made our way from Gweek to Flushing on the east side of Falmouth Bay where CJ and Dave were staying. On arrival at their accommodation we found Callum and Matt still recovering from the walk and long night of yesterday. While we had walked in the light of today they had slept in a darkened room. Oh, how remember days like that. They were sufficiently recovered to join us in the evening though. After evening tea we crossed Falmouth Bay by the Flushing Ferry and then enjoyed a good night out in the town. It was a fitting prelude to the very special and memorable day which followed.