It’s sod’s law that when there’s good weather, I’m chained to my keyboard; yet when I’m available for that lengthy coastal walk, the heavens will open.

Allow me to present Exhibit A. I recently met actor Warwick Davis when he reopened Harry’s Toy Chest in Truro’s Victoria Square. Fans who had followed his career from Star Wars to Harry Potter via Willow were queuing from 5.30am for an autograph.

The minute I set foot outside the house, there was thunder, lightning, biblical downpour - the works. By the time I reached the city centre, I was drenched, as were many of those in the line. Warwick was a jolly chappie, though, and more than worth the shower. Memories were made and friendships forged beneath umbrellas.

Not enough? Exhibit B: last Wednesday, I met with an old friend at Bodmin Parkway station. The forecast looked bad, but I reassured her that the walk to Lanhydrock was through woodland and therefore under cover. This turned out to be an optimistic description of the tree canopy, and by the time we reached the National Trust property, we were soaked to the skin.

Fortunately, my friend has a good sense of humour, and we were revived by a hot Cornish pasty and an up-close-and-personal exploration of the Long Gallery’s barrelled ceiling, which is currently undergoing restoration.This masterpiece of Jacobean plasterwork survived the 1881 fire and depicts dozens of birds, mythical beasts– and, believe it or not, a cat doing a poo.

By the time we walked back, we were still damp, but the sun was out and the estate was the epitome of autumnal loveliness.

All this was given fresh perspective the next day, when I travelled to Falmouth to meet Steven Webb on his circumnavigation of the Cornish coast and the Tamar Valley in his electric wheelchair.

On September 1, 33 years to the day of the accident that left him tetraplegic, Steven set off on The Cornwall 500 route from Truro’s Alverton hotel, waved off by legions of friends and supporters. On Sunday, he was due to return to even greater fanfare, with a brass band to play him onto Lemon Quay in the company of anyone who wished to join him.

I watched him roll into Gyllyngvase beach last Thursday, pulling behind him the trailer containing a miniature Cornwall Air Ambulance to remind everyone that his 500-mile trip is in aid of a good cause (£6,000 and rising).

While he had the option of retreating to his support van when things got really inclement, Steven has soldiered on in most weather conditions. “I don’t shiver or generate heat, so no matter how many layers I wear, staying warm is the hardest part,” he confided.

This was day 18 of his journey, and he was getting tired. “It’s like doing the equivalent of Truro to Penzance in my chair, five days a week.” If you think letting the chair take the strain makes it easier, think again: “When it’s going well, sure. But the roads are bumpy, and you can’t just swerve to avoid a pothole if someone is overtaking you.” To this end, two tyres split during his Helford stint.

But Steven has discovered so many new places, including the beautiful coastal route between St Ives to Geevor, and by the afternoon has reached an almost transcendental state: “By 4pm, I might be cold, wet and windswept, but that’s when my mind goes quiet and I could just go mile after mile after mile.”

It’s also the worst time for traffic. “People are tired, they’ve been working all day, they want to go home. The last thing they want to see is someone driving a wheelchair at 8mph, towing a helicopter to boot.” Fortunately, so far the only beeps he’s heard gave been of encouragement.

Spending an hour in his company over lunch was like being in the presence of a celebrity. Barely a minute passed without someone tapping him on the shoulder, friends and strangers alike, with the words: “We’ve been following you on Facebook!”

The team from Coodes solicitors, who are sponsoring him in his quest, turned out en masse to greet him. “He’s amazing – he puts the rest of us to shame,” said partner Rachel Pearce. “When I see him battling the elements and the road conditions, and still going on day 18, it makes me wonder what challenges I could do.”

At the table next to us, a large group of young folk (I must be old if I’m referring to “young folk”) expressed admiration. One said: “I’m disabled myself, so you really are an inspiration.”

It’s a word that’s often overused, but in Steven’s case, I think it rings very true. As he rolled off down the seafront, I felt a spot of rain.

Find out more and donate at thecornwall500.com