The final day

We left Grosmont at a reasonable hour but left carefully as only the day before there had been an accident on the hill out of town and we wanted to make sure we got out alive. The hill out was really quite unfair. A long long tedious road walk with a steep 33% incline was really tough.

An hour later we levelled out and looked back over the distance we had walked. Only twelve miles lay ahead but it still felt along way looking at the Tarmac and Heather moorland that lay ahead. 

A brief relief from the moorland came in the shape of a tranquil woodland valley  through to a waterfall. A few wrong turns past a hermitage cut in the rocks and we arrived at a stone built building in the middle of the forest. We were making good time so we decided a cup of tea and cake was in order at the cafe. I tucked into a Ginger slice, Colin had a scone and Eeyore lept from my rucksack and scampered over to a sign for 'pooh corner' that was set up in the corner of the garden. 

Leaving the comforts of the cafe we had to negotiate a river with no bridge and little resemblance of stepping stones before joining another Tarmac road leading to another, but our last, moorland path. 

From here on it was down hill to the coast. We spent the next few hours aiming for Whitby which is all we could see in the distance, the Abbey imposing on the skyline. 

We stopped at a horrible campsite for a lemonade and a sandwich. Stopping did give us a chance to open our final map which we had carried for the week in a sealed envelope with supportive messages from our friends. 

Starting walking again for the last five miles was painful for my feet and Colin was having knee problems which were causing him to walk like a funky chicken. It was only another few miles and we hit the coast. All we had to do now was walk along to Robin Hoods Bay. Glorious sunshine and blue skyscraper followed us all the way to the end. It was just like the start if the trip eleven days earlier. 

Most people we encountered were just day trippers and hadn't a clue we were three miles off completing our 200mile trip. Finally as we rounded the last headland and we glimpsed for the first time our final destination. 

Our pace quickened and the sun was relentless as we fell down the very steep road into the village of Robin Hoods Bay. As we arrived at the bay my parents were sat in a street side bar drinking tea and eating scones as they saw us arrive. We were welcomed with smiles and cheers and took our final steps to the ocean that had been our mission. Fortunatelly the tide was in so it wasn't far to walk to dip our boots into the water. A rummage in our rucksacks and we located our pebbles that we had carefully carried since the start and thankfully not lost. It would be a long way back to get a new one. Taking a firm hold we threw our pebbles and returned them to the sea. Our journey over and there's begun again. Hoping one day they may be picked again from a beach to be carried along the coast to coast. 

Before saying goodbye there was time for a few souvenirs and a Chance to sign the coast to coast book in Wainwrights bar. Well done us! Over 200 miles done, blisters, aching muscles, but we were already wondering about our next long distance walk.