Jurrasic Coastin’
“It's wild here, a corner where tides, winds and tectonic plates collide in a roar of elemental confusion. A place of endings, beginnings, shipwrecks and rockslides.”- Raynor Winn
BEFORE WE BEGIN
It might not sound like 'work' as such but when I began my start up journey with Ryde, it was important to me that our products actually do what they say, you know with the whole 'whatever the weather' thing. If I have one piece of advice, it is - don’t let the corporate mentality of ‘it feels fun, it can’t be work’ seep into your choices. Travel and adventures have the ability of shaping you in a way that no boardroom can.
As always, I sought inspiration in the world around us. In this instance, 'The Salt Path' by Raynor Winn.
For those unfamiliar, Raynor Winn is a long-distance walker and writer. Raynor and her husband Moth, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness became homeless after a bad investment and decided to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path. It's beautifully written and based on the idea that sometimes all you can do in life is put one foot in front of the other. Just to keep moving.
GRAB YOUR TENT
With an idea forming, I assembled the gang and packed a backpack.
Destination: Exmouth. There was no set plan, just to attempt the 100 miles across the South West Coast path towards Poole (only a small fraction of the path but we sadly couldn't be off grid for that long), with purposeful Ryde products in a backpack and a tent strapped to our backs in such a way we looked like Ninja Mutant Turtles.
Although we like to class ourselves as you know, 'outdoor fanatics' - we had to prioritise products, cameras and technology over 'proper' camping gear and so the first 48 hours camping were spent somewhat starving, sleeping on hard ground. Wondering whether or not the loud crack at 2am was the tent collapsing or one of our hips. Luckily, our coats unofficially double up as a sleeping bag. Two birds, one stone.
We also had to sacrifice the stove for tech, so thank you to the kind couple at Axmouth Caravan and Camping Site who gave us a morning pity cup of tea 😂
“It's touched you, it's written all over you: you've felt the hand of nature. It won't ever leave you now; you're salted... People fight the elements, the weather, especially here, but when it's touched you, when you let it be, you're never the same again. Good luck, wherever your path takes you.”
THE SALT PATH
Most days the sun beat hot, casting long September shadows and the views were soaked in a salty summer haze, you couldn’t have paid for better conditions - washed down with cold draughts pulled in sunshine.
The route we followed was:
Day 1: Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Salcombe Regis
Day 2: Salcombe Regis to Beer, Seaton
Day 3: Seaton to Axmouth, Lyme Regis
Day 4: Lyme Regis to Seatown, Weymouth
Day 5: Weymouth to West Lulworth, Lulworth Cove
One thing to note is that if you leave your car in one destination it can take a long time to return to your start point. The buses are affordable and efficient but you're still looking at a good few hours between the main towns.
Day 6: Lulworth to Lyme Regis, Seatown
Day 7: Seatown to Exmouth
We packed up inspired by the landscape, with our coastal range and design refinements shaped by the shore. The experience has a thumbs up from us and we met some great people along the way.
If you fancy an adventure, take the time to walk even a fragment of the South West Coastal Path - steeped in history and an opportunity for your soul to catch up from the daily grind.
