Update - That's York (news)

We have not quite finished yet!  Check this out.

DAY SIXTEEN - Falling Foss to Robin Hood's Bay (9miles) 19 August 2017

WE DID IT!

1:45pm Saturday 19th August 2017.

Every head accounted for.

The walk was only completed once our feet had touched the water of the North Sea.  

Thank goodness the tide was in.

Having carried our pebbles all the way from St Bees, we re-homed them on their new shore.

And then threw them in the ocean just to make sure.

Next was a stop at the Bay Hotel (Wainwright's Bar) to take a picture and sign the walkers book.  We were certainly not the first to do so today.  Nor the last.  Click for 'up close' and see if you can decipher what the kids had to say.

Thank you to all at RAY who came to walk alongside us today (and hand out our last 150 flyers).  Hopefully their pictures will come in soon so we can share them with you all too.

And a special, biggest, heartfelt THANK YOU to our crew.  Paul and Christine - AKA Grandad and Grandma.  Photographers, cheerleaders, tent erectors, sock washers, cooks, chauffeurs, grandchildren distractors and patient waiters.  WE LOVE YOU. And couldn't have done it without you.  Please don't go!

As our day (and our hike) finally draws to a halt, there is only one thing left to do.  It is off to the supermarket for a whole tub of ice-cream each.  Tonight is a guilt free, comfort seeking, snuggle enjoying, feet up and look forward to a lie-in festival.  Hope your Saturday is just as fun.  Night all!

DAY FIFTEEN - Glaisdale to Falling Foss (10miles) Friday 18th August 2017

What should have been a quick walk turned into an epic adventure and a real 'family day out' as we used to remember them.  England is a pretty cool place if you now where to look.

Playing in the ford turned into playing of a different kind on the romantic 'beggar's bridge' at Galisdale.




A sneaky play on a river rope swing, while mum was walking ahead unaware everyone had stopped, delayed our entry into Grosmont.  And good luck too.  For the barrier came down as we approached and the North Yorkshire Moor Railways put on a little show for us.  Even better, as we waved at the happy faces of those lucky enough to be day tripping on the steam train, there appeared in one of the windows some fellow coast to coasters named John and Verity who are spending their honeymoon in a wonderfully romantic fashion.  Congratulations to you both.

Straight on up our very LAST large hill.  A whole 390m as the blazing sun warmed our backs.  Amazingly, half way up we met with a couple we had last seen at the bottom of our first mountain all the way back by Black Sail Hut, Ennerdale.  We had all made it through to almost the end.  Chatting with complete(ish) strangers is one of the best parts of the Coast to Coast walk.

Having crossed the stepping stones into Littlebeck....

...we entered a magical forest.

Look!   Eeyore's house.                             'The Hermitage.'                              uPSIDE DOWN TREEs

    A waterfall...                                  ...and a troll bridge.                   And chips at the beach in Whitby

 PERFECT!

'Of course, you don’t need to drop everything and head out to Greece in order to help, there are many ways you can do your part to help here in the UK, donating clothes, toiletries and other necessities to the relevant charities. You could even support those individuals and families who have taken steps – sometimes literally – to try and make a difference.'

Article submitted by Anon.

DAY FOURTEEN - The Lion Inn to Glaisedale (10miles) Thursday 17 August 2017

Being a day ahead we have changed the schedule a little.  So instead of hiking 14miles into Grosmont, we did a very easy moor top walk into the lovely town of Glaisedale.  But apart from the ever nearing view of the North Sea dominating our horizon, I think we have shown enough of the endless heather already.  So instead, grab your popcorn, sit back and meet the kids.

'M felt the need to go to Greece and volunteer her time in helping those seeking refuge, as she thinks “I felt that the European Union was inefficient in the treatment towards people feeling war. As a human being I felt the responsibility to take action and help he refugees in this process, by providing them with the essentials.”'

Article submitted by Anon.

DAY THIRTEEN - Clay Bank Top to The Lion Inn (10miles) Wednesday 16 August 2017

Two important things before we move on...

Katrina had a big operation today after her accident last week.  

We love you!  Be strong...but milk it a little.

And...HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!

Meet Anne and Tim.  Friends of ours from church and dance classes (mum and dad did find a new hobby after all).  Funny story...

having always promised to join us for a day they were unable to contact us due to mum's unfortunate phone incident.  Blog was behind and they had no way of knowing exactly where we would be.  But, undaunted, they set off anyway.  Asking around a little they soon heard tales of the family in green t-shirts (one hopes the word 'mad' was not used), and that they were steaming ahead and maybe try that direction.  Imagine our surprise - and delight - to be greeted with such steadfast stalkers...I mean supporters.

Once more on the lonely moors, another strange event occurred.  Please see below.  

Urm....oooooo.....k!

Maybe they hid the cameras on the sheep?(L)  They certainly scuttled off fast enough when approached which gave our suspicions much weight.  Or even those buildings (R) in the far distant.  Does CCTV have a telescopic lens?  It's a serious business to leave ones dog off the leash in this area.

Speaking of conspiracy theories...Is there any reason the signs are unwilling to tell us what is around here?  Bridleway, bridleway, bridleway or bridleway?  Choices galore!

We found our way anyway.  We are antidisestablismental rogues.  We even make words up.

One more thing...

'I heard a story about C when I volunteered at the Hub one Sunday. She had fled her country because of the violence, the war, and the terror of herself and loved ones being raped, tortured or murdered. She spent time in a camp, where she helped others, because she had worked as a nurse. She wanted to feel useful; didn’t want to burden anyone with the situation that had cracked open and shattered her entire world.'

Article submitted by Anon. (pic not actual 'C')

DAY TWELVE - Danby Wiske to Clay Top Bank (16miles) Tuesday 15 August 2017

You need to check out our planner because we are officially

ONE FULL DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

Coming across the Vale of York has been much easier going and we scaled the enormity of it by just adding a bit more on each day.  Although 16 miles instead of 12 did not seem like 'adding a little'.

But we were not alone and the journey just seemed to fly by.  Meet Katy (whom you have all seen before on a practise hike) and Hamish (the little white fluffy one at the front).  And also some of the volunteers from RAY who not only support those refugees left to fight for themselves, but us too!  And it was much needed, we do admit.  As you can see, our walk with 
them was sunny, pleasant and easy going.  Peter always has a good day when the foraging is plentiful.  He swears these oversized sloes taste like plums.

But just after they left us...

I think we took a wrong turn into the Amazon rainforest!

Still, it took a massive one mile off the journey and the view upon reaching the top was awesome.

(L) Look closely and you can see the SEA.  Middlesborough might not be our final destination but everything is so close now.  A quick moment to wave to our son, Elder Cornish, who is serving a mission out there.  Then we turned to be greeted with such sweet smelling heather that we soon forgot the sweaty hill that had took us there.

In fact, we almost forgot why we were there at all as everyone became too relaxed to walk another step.  Including Hamish.  Guess Esme is not the only one to cheat a little.

Wondering how healthy and strong hiking across England can make you?  Seth seemed in pretty fine fettle for sure.

And the rest?  Maybe finding a ride would be nice, but we don't think this one is going anywhere anytime soon.





Thankfully Grandad is never too far away to lend and much needed helping hand.  Especially when we're trying to return a slightly broken Katy back home to her family.

'I played with nought and crosses with A when I volunteered at the Hub one Sunday. The Hub is where children can play or get help with their homework.  Their parents learn English and get support. A couldn’t speak my language very well, as he hadn’t been to the UK very long; I couldn’t speak his language at all. We spent 45 minutes doing the same game, and laughing, and teasing each other when one of us lost. He smiled a lot. I smile now, thinking about it.'

                      Article submitted by Anon.

DAY ELEVEN - Richmond to Dandby Wiske(15miles) Monday 14 August 2017

Hmm.  (Yawn!).  Hmm.  So...yes.  Today was a bit boring.  Crossing the Vale of York is flat, mostly road and ever so slightly monotonous.  No insult intended to those who live and love there.  Even reaching the Danby Wiske sign brought no more than a brief, 'Oh, that's nice'.  Until we looked at the time.  2:30pm?!?!??!?  We never finish before 4:30pm.  Our lift won't be here for ages.  What do we do?  Wainwright's walk was recommended as a 23 miles stretch.  But with little legs (and fat ones) we knew that was going to be just too much for our family.  But this simple 11 to 12 miles has left us ready for a little more.  Especially when we saw the sign above the pub...

60 MILES!!!  Woohoo!!!

So we pushed on for another 3 miles.  And it just got better.

Delicious!!!

Excellent job, Lizzie!!!

Maybe we should have tried for the whole 23 miles after all...

Urm.  OK then.

'S’s parents were found in the cellar by soldiers. The wife was separated from her husband, who was imprisoned in a concentration camp. They found each other nine months’ later, and found refuge in the UK. They love the UK, contribute to the community, work hard, miss their home. The husband can’t talk too much about the concentration camp – not even to his daughter.'

Article submitted by Anon.