FinalWe tore ourselves away from supporting Tom Daley in the Olympics to have an excellent breakfast in the company of a couple we had met at the Lion. And then off on the last day of walking. It started with half an hour of steep uphill to wake up my legs and back. One of the things I’m really grateful for is how well my legs have stood up to the challenge, I’ve had really no problems at all, no twinges, no stiffness, they’ve just kept going. But even more than that I’m grateful that my back has survived. I had a prolapsed disc 9 months ago, and it was one of the sources of anxiety before starting, that continuous walking with a pack would be too much for it. But although I’ve needed to stretch it most mornings, that’s been all, which I feel is pretty miraculous. Thanks to my wonderful physio, Owen Gerrie, for getting me here! As I was pushing up the hill I caught up with Gary and his son Robert, who I’d first met in the Lion. Gary paused half way up, looked ruefully at his son striding ahead at speed, and told me he was worried he was going to lose his breakfast. Although it sounds unfeeling, that made me laugh a lot, it quite cheered up the climb… At the top of the hill Sleights Moor opened up, and in front of me were 7 walkers in three groups, and then a couple behind me. This was the most people I’ve seen, it was as if the path was the shepherd gathering the flock together for the last leg. It was good to be out in the open space again, though I was very conscious that it wouldn’t be for much longer. And before long the path left the moor and went downhill into the Littlebeck nature reserve, following the stream. I knew there were waterfalls here to look out for, and kept being a bit disappointed at the flimsy nature of the cascades I spotted. And then I saw Falling Foss. That’s a proper waterfall, and has a proper tea room next door at which I had the second coffee of the last 17 days. Just before the waterfall there is the intriguing Hermitage, which is an enormous piece of granite that was carved into a shelter in the 18th century. It led to a bafflingly acerbic comment in my Cicerone guidebook: ‘Quite why it was built appears to be unrecorded - it may simply have been to serve the purposes of a local eccentric, a form of 18th century escapism that sees its modern counterpart in the blank-faced mobile phone-clutching brigades, who wander about our streets or sit immutably insular on trains or buses’. I wonder what has happened to the author in the past to make him so heartfelt. Having come out of the wood I joined Toni and Martin, whom I’d been periodically catching up with during the day. We were together for the final stretch of moorland. Here for the first time there was proper bog, probably made particularly unctuous due to the rain yesterday. Mostly we could squelch through it, but on a number of occasions it took a bit of thought and a few leaps to avoid the water coming over the top of our boots. Not for the first time I was very grateful for my walking poles to help keep me upright. It was really good to have company over the very tricky terrain, and then later they were kind enough to sponsor me too. Away from the bog, on country lanes, my map told me I had less than 5 miles to go. I suddenly and unexpectedly felt completely overwhelmed at what I’d done and the fact that it was finishing. And then I got into signal in Hawsker, a village with links to Robin Hood, though all probably tenuous and apocryphal. As my phone jumped into life I found lots of notifications that people have been sponsoring me this morning. That was really encouraging to keep marching on. The track took me through a static caravan park, and then there ahead was the coastal path, and the sea. Just like the beginning of the walk, but now I’m on the East coast. I’ve really walked right across the country. And as if to say that the path is now on my side, there was a huge herd of noisy cows, safely contained behind a fence. I love the coastal path, and have walked for hours on the section near Woolacombe in Devon. But now I wanted to be off it, and to be walking into Robin Hood’s Bay. I picked up the pace, seeing glimpses of the place periodically, and after 3 or 4 miles eventually reached the edge of the village and started the steep descent down to the sea. There were so many people there. It was really unnerving to be in a crowd after so long to, and especially that almost all of them were holiday makers - they weren’t walkers, they didn’t know what I’d been doing. At the bottom of the hill was the sea, and sitting next to it was David. I walked to the beach to throw the pebble I’d carried from St Bees into the water, to dip my boots in the sea and have a paddle. I was overtaken with emotion at being there. As we were clambering back up over the granite rocks to the walkway from the water, a woman offered me a hand. I thanked her, but said that I was ok, I’d clambered over worse! And then my thermos fell out of the rucksack again, adding to its impressive dents. As David was nobly rescuing it, she asked me what I’d been doing, and when I told her she also became emotional. I encouraged her to take the challenge on herself one day. And then it was over. Brilliantly, at the Bay hotel by the water I met Toni and Martin, Gary and Robert, and Georgia who I’d last seen at the Lion, along with others who’d just completed the Coast to Coast. We shared anecdotes, toasted each other, teased each other, laughed a lot and for a little while we were the only people that mattered in Robin Hood’s Bay. Stats
Distance covered: 16 miles Total ascent: 1850 feet Calories burned: 2200 Annoying ear worm: 5 dollars Christine and the Queens Post walk hearty dinner - don’t know as tonight we’re eating late, but this hotel is fancy!! Things I wouldn’t have been without on the walk: Headphones, walking poles, Aveda foot cream, 1000 mile socks, and my phone - on which I’ve done my blog, created the Relive videos, taken my photos, operated my GPS and stored my routes, spoken to my dearest people, had lovely messages to read, operated my JustGiving page, listened to Bill Bryson, played games, watched the Olympics and read a book. Video of the day: https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnwGyLo56 Thank you for reading this - knowing there are people out there enjoying it has been a surprising bonus of this adventure. And huge thanks to everyone who’s sponsored me. At time of writing, over the two pages I’ve set up I’ve raised £1300 for Buckinghamshire Mind, which is absolutely amazing. If anyone else would like to chip a bit in, the site is: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jane-Smith109 Here’s to the next challenge! J xx
10 Comments
Janna
7/8/2021 18:51:14
Huge Well Done on an amazing achievement! Xx
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David
7/8/2021 19:48:36
So proud!
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Di Bingle
7/8/2021 20:09:47
Fantastic achievement Jane so pleased for you - will miss these blogs but now for a well earned rest for you (maybe) 😃👏👏
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Carly
7/8/2021 22:03:52
Almost speechless at what you have achieved....but we do need to discuss that overarm throwing technique!
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Jane
8/8/2021 07:41:35
Knew you’d pick me up on that one!??
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Simon Ferris
8/8/2021 12:23:42
Hi Jane, Simon (from Simon and Andy) fame. Great to read that you made it successfully.
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Jane
8/8/2021 20:33:25
Hi Simon!
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Courtney Wood
8/8/2021 18:13:42
Huge congratulations Jane! What an incredible walk. Was so lovely to meet you on the way x
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Jane
8/8/2021 20:30:36
So great to hear from you, it was lovely to meet you too! How was the rest of your walk? Xx
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Sophie
15/8/2021 08:02:29
Congratulations, Jane! Such an achievement in so many ways. I am full of admiration and envy, and so looking forward to following your End to End journey too: not there’s no stopping you!!
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