Day 14 - Coast to Coast - Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's bay

The Last Post 

(except for the summary to follow)

It's a long way to Robin Hood's Bay

Gill was excited to arrive at the old fashioned railway station in Grosmont and could have stayed there all day watching trains.

The North Sea !!!

On the Coast Path at last

We made it !!!

Throwing the St Bee's pebbles from the Irish Sea into the North Sea at Robin Hood's Bay

Day 13 - Coast to Coast - Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge

To the Pole ...

Springing out of bed, the first view was not encouraging.

The view from Heathcliffe's bedroom

So we took the leisurely option and had a slow breakfast.

The weather worsened. Soon we were Scott of the Antarctic, battling against ferocious snow storms. It felt like we were getting acupuncture treatment on our faces.

Liz miserabled ...

The North Yorkshire Moors doesn't change from one minute to the other. Heather and Grouse, Heather and Grouse, Heather and Grouse. 

And bogs, really slippery ones.

So we decided to complete a photoshoot for an outdoors magazine ... such fun.

The weather changed again, back to nice, and we arrived at a lovely pub, in brilliant sunshine, for good old fashioned English cooking. The pan fried lambs liver was delicous. 

Day 12 - Coast to Coast - Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge

Walking on Sunshine

Another 20 mile day yet we departed with a spring in our steps, climbing up to the North Yorkshire moors, viewing flat plans to the Pennines behind us and Teeside and moors ahead.

Rather like walking the south west coast path with plains instead of the sea to keep our interest.

It was along this stretch we caught our first sight of the North Sea off "beautiful" Redcar!

There is some doubt whether we can award Liz her ornithology badge. Yesterday she said "I am so over curlews" yet today failed to recognise the call and sight of one flying right across her path. Moreover she thought red grouse was guinea fowl.

Gill caught sight of a bird of prey we have yet to identify. Possibly a merlin or hobby.

Seeing double - another mature moment

And then the hail showers started to come in and it was back to full waterproofs and rapidly changing weather conditions. We all felt good on arrival at the Lion Inn in Blakey, a warm comfortable pub in the middle nowhere. And crashed. After 45 miles in two days the fatigue is setting in.

What's more we awoke this morning to a light smattering of snow and decided on a leisurely breakfast and a later start than normal. To be continued.

Thank you everybody for your comments and support and Annie and James for their advice. Liz's blister is getting better.

Day 10 - Coast to Coast - Richmond to Ingleby Cross

A dull day on the Coast to Coast

livened up by girls bedrooms and blisters ...

Yesterday we had dinner with Ron and Edie, Edie told a great joke:

A duck walked into a bar and ordered a beer. The barman said "buzz off you're a duck", the duck said "yes but I need a beer and my name is Hughy and I'm knackered because I've been in and out of puddles all day". The barman said "alright then". Shortly another duck came into the bar and said "gimme a beer". I'm Dughy and I'm knackered because I've been in and out of puddles all day and I need a beer. The barman said "Oh for goodness sake I can't be bothered to argue, here you are" and gave him a beer. Then a third duck came in and the barman said " I bet I can guess your name, it's Louis and I know what you've been doing all day". "No you don't, my name", said the duck "is Puddles and you don't want to know what kind of day I've had, now give me a beer". 

Who says girls are tidy (Annie, do you expect your mother's case to look like this?)

A thorn between two roses

Today we crossed the Vale of Mowbray, 24 miles, of flat, boring but easy walking. At lunchtime, we felt compelled to get out the survival shelter so the more sensible members of the team could eat their cheese sandwiches in the dry. The next most interesting part is crossing the A19, arguably the most dangerous 100 yards of the entire Coast to Coast trail.

And here is the blister 

Day 9 - Coast to Coast - Reeth to Richmond

What?

Today is St George's day and the locals are making an effort'

This leg took us down the Swale Valley (Swaledale)  through stone walled fields and tiny villages, not as challenging as previous days (a bit like an easy walk in Devon) but all the more lovely for that.

Three lovely walkers still in good shape

 

Can I come?

Day 10 - Rest Day in Richmond

We've just been joined by Ron and Edie (see Day 5) and are off to eat drink and most definitely be merry after massages, facials (Liz and Gill) and a very pleasant rest. Back up in earnest tomorrow.