It was only a 5 mile walk to Ilfracombe but it took almost 3 hours of up and down and roundabout walking. Nothing like yesterday, though, which will live in the memory as the severest of tests. I was to meet Nick Pedlar in Ilfracombe for lunch, who is the youngest of 3 brothers I was at schoil with in Taunton. I was 30 minutes late but that against the fact that I had not seen him for 30 years paled into insignificance. We had lunch and he drove me to his elder brother's house, John, vicar of Bedford who has it as a bolt hole. I looked around Ilfracombe where I had spent some of my mispent youth singing whilst intoxicated and intoxicated with singing with the very excellent Exon Singers who still very much exist. Nick, as an ex-Exeter Cathedral Choir Boy has been choir master at the parish church for 35 years so it being Ascention Day, I found myself singing mass. We then had a lovely Italian meal, drank and talked of times past. I'd hate to take a driving test in Ilfracombe as it is all hills. Tomorrow I go to Brittany for 10 days to work with singers mostly from my London choir. We will rehearse a new repertoire and give a couple of concerts so this blog will cease until 1 June. I have now done 500 miles since St. David's Head and gone through one pair of shoes. I am pleased to have a break though it has been a wonderful 5 1/2 weeks.