Day 16 - THE FINAL DAY!

It was quite fitting that our last day started with glorious sunshine as we set out from Grosmont Moor.

 Down to Little Beck where we crossed the ford

 and across Sneaton Low Moor towards Hawsker.

We have spent the last 14 walking days circumnavigating every bog mentioned in the books and maps and have successfully kept our feet relatively dry.  HOWEVER, our luck ran out with "the bog of all bogs"!!!!!!

20 foot across, shin deep, and no way around.

The feeling of boggy water coming in over the top of your boots is....... indescribable.

Our feet now look like they have spent the last fortnight in the Caribbean!  Did we mention it stains??

 The sign says 2.5 miles, if you want to cheat...... Map says 4.2 miles - the Wainwright way, along the coast.

We took the coast route.

 We had been able to see Whitby all day......

 We finally reached the sea, and turned right along the coast

 Spectacular coast line

 Robin Hoods Bay comes into view....  the end is nigh!!!! A little tear and a lump in the throat.

 Getting closer......

 The welcoming committee..... 2 Sherpa's and a dog!

 We finally made it as Marcia and Toby head for the beach.

 One, two, three and dip.  We dip our toes in the North Sea.......

 and get ready to deposit our pebbles that we have carefully carried from St Bees.....

 ....assisted by Toby.

The final task is "raise a glass".

Our Mission Complete!

Bloody Hell!!!!!   We made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and by the way.  Look who we spotted, fishing.............

(We've become delirious!)

Day 15 - Rosedale Road to Grosmont Moor

We started our penultimate day on the Moor, and low and behold, we got our first view of the North Sea.

It was absolutely freezing first thing this morning.  We wrapped up warm, just leaving part of our faces open to the elements.

Believe it or not, that's the sea in the distance!

Got any binoculars?

Met some new comrades today. Young, fit and spectacular soldier boys (we think).  Was a bit slow with the camera.  They are on their 8th day and will complete the C2C in 9 days, for goodness sake!!!!!!

Fit, feisty, and ready to go!  Just need a quick breather! (and four walking poles)

We have decided that the North Yorkshire Moors have been our favourite part of the walk.  We enjoyed the stunning scenery and fabulous tracks and way marking.  Although very bleak, there is something enchanting about them.

We came down off the Moor and walked through Glaisdale, where we came across Beggars Bridge which is a 17th century bridge that has a romantic history!

On through the woods towards Egton.  

We didn't see Bill and Ben, or the 3 Melbourne Stooges today as we were a couple of miles ahead of them and they never got a chance to catch us up.  However, we did come across a group of Americans that we haven't seen since day 1.  They have cheated their way across the country by skipping days when they fancy time off!!!!  What's the point of flying 3000 miles to only complete 110+ miles of a challenge that is nearly twice that length!!!!!!!  Lightweights!

As we left Egton and reached the outskirts of Grosmont, we found a bench by the river calling our names!!!!!

Grosmont runs a steam train, and we crossed over the tracks to take us out of the village.

 Our Sherpas and Toby are going back to Grosmont tomorrow to go for a ride on the steam train.

We left Grosmont via a rather long and immensely steep hill that nearly killed us.  However, half way up, soldier boy decided to march up behind us shouting "come on girls, keep going".  Bastard!!!  We were impressed by how fast we were going until that point, cause we hadn't stopped yet.

By the time we got up to Grosmont Moor, he was disappearing into the distance.

Looking forward to tomorrow and meeting up in Wainwrights Bar, with all the friends we've made over the last 15 days.  In the words of Frank,

"And now, the end is near............."

Day 14 - Claybank to The Lion Inn and beyond

We cannot tell you how cold it was today up on "t moors"!!!!  A bitter cold wind for the whole day that tried to knock you off your feet when it got the chance.  It was also quite lonely.  We didn't see any of our fellow coast to coasters along the track and we had been in the pub nearly an hour when they finally arrived.  What does that tell you????  (We had to pop in just to warm up).

The sun may be shining, but it's still cold. Clock those rosy cheeks!

Started the day with quite a climb. The views were once again breathtaking.  After this shot, we got enshrouded in mist for the next hour and couldn't see much around us.  Thankfully the track was wide and clearly marked.

The Famous Grouse

Sadly, not a tot of whisky in sight to take the edge off the cold!!!!!

As the mist started to clear, we could see down Farndale Valley

The sun made an appearance and warmed us up slightly.  The wind however, was still very strong and cold.

 We were so excited about reaching The Lion Inn, we forgot to take a picture of it.

We did find Gaynor and say hello, just like we had promised Malcolm in Grasmere.

After a pleasant capuccino and a catch up with the other coast to coasters, we decided to carry on for another 2/3 miles to reduce the distance we have to do over the next 2 days.

A couple of miles away from The Lion Inn is a monument called "Fat Betty".  No sarky comments please!!!!

Unfortunately, Fat Betty's head appears to be missing so you can't see the full effect.

Unfortunately, Toby is still slightly lame after hurting his paw on a stile outside Richmond.  Not all farmers are walker and dog friendly, and these were particularly difficult stiles to get over.  He had to visit the local vet to have his paw checked out, and is on a cocktail of drugs!!  This has unfortunately ended his coast to coast walk, but he has the luxury of a warm car each day, and just joins us for photos.

Day 13 - Ingleby Cross to Claybank

Sherpa Maj has been slipping recently, so we are trying out a new assistant, Sherpa Maggie.  So far she's promising. Her first words when we come in are "fancy a brew?"  She even brings it up to the  bath for you!

We think we'll keep her!

The day started promisingly. The sun was shining and it looked like the day was going to be full of adventure. However, sadly, Toby hurt his paw and was limping badly this morning, and couldn't join us.

As we followed the forest track up to the Cleveland Way, we were surrounded by pheasant. The local farmer had recently spread grain all over the track and they were coming at it from all sides.

 The views definitely started to improve over what we had seen over the last 3 days.

As we reached this point, we ran into the Three Stooges from Melbourne.  We first met them yesterday and found it quite entertaining to walk with them.

As we climbed, the views got more and more spectacular

 It was quite ironic that the Air Ambulance flew below us as we climbed up to the Moors. 

The North Yorkshire Moors in all their glory.  As we got onto the Moors, we bumped into Bill and Ben from Cumbria.  We first met them on day 4 and our paths have crossed most days.

 The rest of the day became quite strenuous.  There was a lot of climbing up, and then climbing back down again!  Jelly legs by the time we got to our destination, but the views were to die for!

 We got caught in a shower as we climbed up onto the moors, but as the showers moved away, the views left you breathless, literally!!!!!!

 As we stopped for lunch, we felt like we were sitting on top of the world!

 Thirteen days and still smiling!

We climbed to 432 feet and found this monument to a walker.  From here we could see Middlesbrough and all the major landmarks around.

 Windswept, but still stunning!

 Our final climb for the day - Claybank

As we reached the end of Claybank, all we had to do was descend down to the road into the waiting arms of Sherpas Maj and Maggie and Toby sitting miserably in the back of the car!!!

Tomorrow, we will be finishing at The Lion Inn in Blakey Moor.  Many days ago, when we were crossing from Grassmere to Patterdale, we bumped into a guy called Malcolm. He and his wife Gaynor run this pub and we promised to stop in and say hello.

Day 12 - Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross

Alfred Wainwright says in his book that this is one of the boring parts of the walk, and we must admit that there is not much to see.  Fields, hedgerows, fields, more fields, hedgerows, and more fields.  To be honest, we could be anywhere in the country.

However, the one driving force was us heading towards the Cleveland Hills which by all accounts, are absolutely spectacular.

 We couldn't find anywhere to sit for lunch, so we had lunch leaning on a field gate.

 We know that anyone who saw our walking poles congregated on the verge would know exactly what we were up to, but it was a chance we had to take.  When mother nature calls, you have to answer.

When we crossed the M6, there was a foot bridge over the motorway.

When we crossed the A1, there was a tunnell underneath it.

When we came to the next busy road, the A19, we had to leg it!!  

Running across 4 lanes of fast traffic is not an option, because after walking 140 odd miles, your legs don't know how to run anymore.

We crossed the first 2 lanes quite easily, but it took us over 5 minutes to get over the next 2!  We somehow managed to photograph the road when there were hardly any cars on it!!!!!

We have had on/off showers most of the day, but it ended with the most beautiful rainbow. 

Tomorrow we will be heading up into the Cleveland Hills.  So, watch this space.