A KEEN walker from Okehampton is poised to complete her two year quest to walk the 630 miles of the South West Coastal Path by completing the final two stages of the route. Meri Cox, from Okehampton, started the walk for the charity Hospiscare ? and her own pleasure ? from Minehead on April 1, 2003. Earlier this month, she had to postpone her plans to walk the two remaining sections from Kimerage to Swanage and then finishing in Poole ? a total of 20 miles ? but she is now set to finally bring the challenge to a close. Meri?s companion throughout the walk has been her 14-year-old collie dog Smokey. Meri, 65, said she was inspired to take up the walk after reading a book called ?500 Miles of Walkies?? by an author who also talk a four-legged friend on a coastal walk. Meri said she had started off with great enthusiasm two years ago, but her back pack had been too heavy ? especially carrying so many tins of dog food? and problems set in which meant she had to abandon the walk after 60 miles. ?I had to give up but I was still determined to do it,? she said. ?It had been wonderful in the spring, with sea on one side and the countryside on the other was marvellous.? She was out of action for nine months, but after going to Belgium for a hip replacement operation, Meri set off again. Meri said she particularly enjoyed walking in Dorset. ?I have loved doing Dorset because it?s so geographically beautiful,? she said. Meri said when on her walks, she preferred camping, as it allowed her to start as early as she wanted. She liked to pack up her tent and begin walking at 8am each morning. Meri said she had attended the 25th anniversary of Hospiscare in Exeter and having lost her husband to cancer, she wanted to be able to do something to help the charity which relies totally on donations and fund-raising. Twice Meri has been trekking in Nepal in the last five years; first in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and then for the new Okehampton Hospital appeal. Having completed the entire length of the South West coast path, Meri said there were still many places she wanted to walk next. ?I did part of the Pembrokeshire coast last year, I would like to go back and complete that, and I would like to walk Hadrian?s Wall,? she said. Meri said she was just sorry the walk was coming to an end, but she was very pleased to have been able to achieve a personal ambition.