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.

For all those wandering how the kids are faring...

(Just don't tell them we showed you this!!!)

DAY TEN - Reeth to Richmond (12miles) Sunday 13th August 2017

It's Sunday morning.  Something just feels different today.  A kind of peaceful optimism is hovering over us, mingled with sunshine and a light breeze.  And as we bump in to coast to coaster and coast to coaster (almost a tongue twister) it seems everyone is feeling the same way.  We can do this!

Our PR guru, Esme (may be for hire at the right price) set a competitive sales quota as she hustled every hiker she saw into taking one of our flyers.  We have not met a single adult who can turn her down yet.  Bonus - it helps her to forget her tired legs.... for a moment.

Bumping into old friends was a total booster to the day.  All the single ladies...I found where the men are hiding.  Each one fit and healthy and still got their own teeth.  With that and all the weight one looses on such an adventure, this is surely the way to spend a summer holiday.  Who needs a cruise liner!

Interesting.  This needs further investigation...

And so we marched on into Richmond.  Leaving behind our fellow travellers (most of whom are taking a well deserved day off tomorrow in this beautiful town) to push out a few extra miles (ending in Colburn) before bedtime.

Yes, Sundays are special days.

'S was born in Bradford but her parents were born in the Balkans. They had to flee the Balkan war. They left their home the day when they woke up to birds singing – and nothing else. They knew the war had been coming, but never thought it would arrive. They went to a neighbour’s house, and hid in their cellar. And waited.'

Article submitted by Anon.

DAY NINE - Keld to Reeth (12miles) Saturday 12 August 2017

So, kids.  What did you do today on your summer hols?

<--- We skipped swimming under the waterfall today to go on an adventure.

Dad tried to fix up an old tractor to catch us, but we think there may be a part or two missing. --->

Then we played house.  The gingerbread house of Hansel and Gretal.  Don't forget to wash your meat before cooking.

Ultimate space invaders came next.  Although the master baddy seemed an easy target. --->

<--- After that, Lizzie tried to get a job at the old Victorian lead mines.  They said she was too old.

After escaping a dangerous avalanche....

...we levitated over a river.  Honestly!  Urm, just please don't look at the photo in 'close-up'.  --->

<--- Did we mention we climbed up a mountain?  Almost...!  Again!

Mum went kind of red and blotchy.  Lucky dad still fancies her.  We caught them kissing at the top.  No pics though.  EW!

Tilda went looking for Santa Claus.  Definitely not stuck up this chimney.

Oh.  One more thing.  We raised tons of money for charity!!!

Want to play with us tomorrow?

'L went to a refugee camp in Greece as a volunteer. He spent three weeks there, helping with a non-government organisation provide food and support for the refugees. He returned with stories of people, far beyond the title ‘refugees’. People like the doctor who had had to flee and was stuck in limbo; of children playing together; of passionate volunteers trying to help; passionate refugees trying to need less help. Those three weeks have made an impact on L – an impact that will be felt in years to come.'

Article submitted by  Anon.

DAY EIGHT - Kirkby Stephen to Keld (12miles) Friday 11 August 2017

Today we will reach half way!  

Perfect time for mum to stumble, fall in front of a street load of people and totally smash her phone.  Should I dream a phone company will see this and offer me a new one?  I would probably just donate it to the cause anyway.  After all, the support we are getting is heart warming and inspirational to us weary travellers.  From back home or on the trail, every one is digging into their wallets or cheering us on. 

THANK YOU!😍

 Today we were to head for the Nine Standards Rigg at the summit of Hartley Fell in the Pennine Hills.  (Yet another mountain!)  From there the route is marked through a rather dangerous bog.  The guiding factor, a line of blue poles from which you point your body in the direction of the next one and walk in a very straight line.  Coming towards the cairns, we began to think this plan might not be one that works for us today.  It felt as if we were in the 'Labyrinth' movie where the choice was back home, safety, sunshine, downhill!  OR...Onwards to a muddy watery grave.  And that is no poetic dramatisation.  So we headed back down hill.  A wasted journey of about an hour and a half, but     the safety for our children was immeasurable.

Not to be disheartened for long, we soon came across a welcome sign.  Have we really already reached North Yorkshire?  Home, here we come!

'There’s a picture from the Second World War of a trail of Polish refugees. I don’t know the name of the photographer, nor the year it was taken. What I do know, is that I saw one almost exactly like it last year – albeit in colour – of refugees being marched out of Hungary. I learned about the Second World War at school, and from my father. I wondered how many people who didn’t have to flee their homes helped those that did. I want to be one of those people who is helping, and volunteer at Refugee Action York. I don’t do much – but at least I’m not doing nothing.'

 Article submitted by Anon.