Day 16 - The Final Day...Hawsker to Robin Hood's Bay

After a celebration dinner in the hotel last night there was no need to rush off this morning. :-

After all, there's less than 5 miles to go and everything could be done at a leisurely pace - even eating breakfast.

The four of us planned to walk to Robin Hood's with our wives (in Chris's case, his mother!) but before we set off we had a photo session on the front lawn of the hotel.

Here's Patrick and Clare :-

and Joe and Diane :-

and the Happy Wanderers :-

Can you see the T-shirts?  A few days ago Chris had the bright idea of having some T-shirts printed for us all to wear on the final part of the walk.  Unknown to Patrick, my wife Pat, managed to get some printed in time, by coincidentally, a guy who knows Joe and Patrick well and who had been following the blog over the past week or so.  Here's a closer shot of the front of the shirt.  :-

Wearing the shirts would make sure that everyone we passed on the way could see what we were doing, who we were doing it for, and how proud we were to be wearing them.

Before we started walking Joe, as usual, had to do his limbering up exercises, with Patrick, again, looking on in amusement.  Unfortunately this time, there's no photo of me thinking "What a plonker!". :-

At last we managed to get all the walkers rounded up and we set off for Robin Hood's Bay.  Chris and Patrick decided they'd be the pace makers and went tearing off up the road. :-

It's only 2½ to Robin Hood's Bay by road :-

and Wainwright offers the choice of going that way to any leg weary walkers.  There's also a footpath which follows a former railway track. No ups and downs, nice easy walking.

Neither of these is the way we'll go.  We'll take Wainwright's "Royal Road" to the Bay.  The scenic route.  The path along the cliff tops with magnificent views out to sea and along the sandstone cliffs which are a feature of this beautiful coastline.  It's longer, but well worth it.  See what I mean, :-

Here's four of our walkers giving answer to William Henry Davies in his poem "Leisure": "What is this life if,  full of care,  We have no time to stand or stare...."

There's lots to stand and stare at on this walk. :-

As we got nearer the Bay, the four of us hung back and allowed our companions to go on ahead to join other family members waiting there.  Then we set off at a leisurely pace and wasted a bit of time while Joe fooled about. :-

"Joe" Patrick shouts.  "All the time you've been photographing bridges and railway engines.  Look!  Ships!" :-

"No.  I won't swallow that" said Joe. :-

On the way we stopped and chatted to passers by who, seeing our shirts, asked what we were about.  When they learned that we were also doing the walk for charity they generously gave us a donation.   This is Malcolm and Stuart... :-

and Marian. :-

At last the first sight of Robin Hood's Bay! :-

Group hug!  We're nearly there boys! :-

Here's a closer look. :-

Wainwright writes in his Coast To Coast Guide: "The coast here, ribbed with sandstone reefs and rich in fossils, is geologically interesting, but it is the "town", the amazing cluster of red-roofed buildings perched one above another, the labyrinth of passageways and steps, crowded into a breach in the cliffs with remarkable economy of space, a nest crammed tight, that attracts most attention."

The way into town is quite steep. :-

Walking along the cliffs we could hear music and the sound of drums.  Here's the explanation for it.  Morris Dancers (and their dog).  There were lots of others around town for some dance festival it seems. :-

Here's Joe's photo of the dog. :-

Another Jack Russell. How many is that we've seen?  The man kindly gave us the change out of his pocket for the charity.  It wasn't a lot but it was much appreciated.

Further into town and nearing the harbour we came across more Morris Dancers. (Another internet search for those of you who don't know about this tradition.) :-

We hadn't reckoned on just how many tourists there would be in Robin Hood's Bay!  Hoards of them!

Our goal was to dip our feet in the North Sea, just as we had done in the Irish Sea at St. Bees.  We also needed to complete the tradition by throwing the pebbles we'd collected there, out to sea.

Fighting our way through the tourists, we arrived at the ramp to the beach :-

where we found our families waiting to welcome us.  Note the shirts everyone's wearing! :-

A group hug to celebrate a good team effort :-

then on to the beach for the final acts of wetting boots in the sea :-

and throwing the pebbles. :-

Trouble is, this little dog (another Jack Russell!) brought Joe's pebble back to him! :-

Try as he might, it kept bringing it back!  Good game this! :-

One last throw!  The dog went one way and the pebble the other! :-

Finally a pint in Wainwright's bar at the Bay Hotel completes the Coast To Coast Walk and its traditions. :-

Then back up the hill to a hotel for lunch.  When we were there, Clare gave Patrick a memento of his achievement, two beautiful water colours.  One of St. Bees and the other of Robin Hoods Bay. :-

So, the show is finally over.  It's back to reality for all of us, back to normality.  

What's it all been about and what's been achieved?

Quite simply it was all about brotherly love.  It was all about Patrick wanting to do something in memory of his brother Terry.  Something difficult, something that would test him.  Something, that in the end, he might not even achieve, God forbid!  But achieve it he did and he is to be admired for doing so.

His fellow walkers, Joe and Chris, should also be admired for their achievement in completing the walk, and for the way they've supported Patrick and each other throughout.  It is a hard trek this Coast to Coast Walk.  Far from easy, it's hard on the legs, muscles and feet, especially so when blisters develop on heels and soles.

As for me, I'm proud to have been part of the team!  I'm proud that they've achieved their goal and that my contribution as bag carrier and packed lunch maker has helped them do it.  I'm also proud to have been chronicler of their exploits, which I hope you, dear readers, have enjoyed.

Day 15 - Glaisdale to Hawsker

There was definitely an air of elation and light-heartedness amongst us over breakfast this morning.  This penultimate section of the walk would take the Trio, by late afternoon, to Hawsker which is within 5 miles walking of their objective.

At 15 miles it is one of the longest, but you can bet your (walking) boots, every step will be trodden willingly and even joyfully.  Not only will we be within easy walking distance of Robin Hood's Bay at Hawsker, but our wives will be waiting there for us.  Unfortunately Chris's girl friend Karen was unable to be there, but she managed to spend some time with him in Richmond where we were all pleased to see her.  Especially Chris!

This should be an interesting walk for the Trio.  In Wainwright's words it "has a wide variety of scene: a lovely river and woodland, heather moors, charming villages, prehistoric relics, a stately waterfall, a forest trail, (and) steam locomotives."

Here's our three walkers leaving The Arncliffe Arms.  Pub doors are normally open.  Has the landlord slammed the door on them?  No wonder!  Have you ever seen three scruffier looking individuals?  Probably not, but their smiles show they're happy and raring to go! :- 

Just down the road from here is Beggar's Bridge which spans the River Esk. :-

It was built by Thomas Ferris in 1619.  Ferris was a poor man who had aspirations to marry the daughter of a wealthy local squire.  In order to win her hand he set sail from Whitby to make his fortune.  On the night that he left he went to say goodbye to his beloved but the river was swollen after heavy rain.  He was unable to make a last visit to her and with a heavy heart he went his way.

Eventually he returned from his travels a wealthy man, and after marrying the squire's daughter, he built Beggar's Bridge so that no other lovers would suffer as he had in being separated by the flooding Esk.

The bridge is the first point of interest they came to. (Actually it was less than 5 minutes walk from The Arncliffe Arms!). :-

 

For the first part of this section of their walk the path follows the River Esk, which for the most part flows gently through wooded valleys. :-

Their pleasant stroll eventually brought them to Egton Bridge.  Egton village itself stands a mile north of the Esk so they didn't have time to visit it.

Egton Bridge, out of character for the whole walk, is made out of iron.  Disappointing for Joe, but he took a photo of it all the same. :-

Strangely, there is an additional means of crossing the river at this point, stepping stones!  Well used too, judging by how much they're worn in the centre of each one.  I suppose someone got fed up of not being able to cross when the river was in flood and like Thomas Ferris, built a bridge. :-

Still following the Esk Valley the Trio headed for Grosmont.  I have insisted on calling this Gross-mont, but locally, possibly under some French influence, it is pronounced Grow-mont.  Here's the bridge just before entering the village.  Is this the last stone bridge? :-

The majority of tourists who visit Grosmont do so because of its connection with the North York Moors Railway Society.  This organisation has kept open the Eskdale rail line between Pickering and Whitby.  This, by popular opinion, is scenically one of the finest rail journeys in the country.  They operate both vintage diesel and steam locomotives, pulling vintage rolling stock on regular journeys between the two towns.  Here's two of the locos. :-

and some more. :-

I would hazard a guess that these three thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so they spent in Grosmont, watching the engines chuff chuff up and down, and visiting the engine sheds and workshops.  All grown men are little boys at heart!

Incidentally, this plate is on the side of REPTON the big green steam locomotive immediately above. :-

It relates the history of the engine and that it is owned by Clifford H Brown of Alexandria, Virginia, USA.  What was it that Liberace once said, "The only difference between men and boys is the price they pay for their toys!".  Some toy!

Reluctantly leaving the Eskdale Valley and Grosmont the Intrepid Trio had a muscle wearying trek up the steep road out of the village which had a 1 in 3 gradient for a good part of it.  I had driven up it earlier in the day and the bodies of many previous Coast To Coast walkers lay prostrate at the side of the road.  Alive or dead, or defeated with a few miles to go, I don't know.  I stopped and offered a couple of struggling walkers a lift to the top but was flatly refused.  "Do or Die" was their motto!  What indomitable spirit!  I hoped my three companions would have the same grit and determination as these two had.

They certainly had because after this debilitating few miles we see them striding down the A169 for a short way before turning off towards Little Beck. :-

It is here that they had their first clear sighting of the North Sea and Whitby with its abbey on the headland. :-

The last two places of interest await them on this part of the walk following Little Beck. The first is The Hermitage. :-

This is a shelter hewn out of a massive boulder by George Chubb around 1790.  Why?  That's another internet search for you!

Is that a hermit I see inside? :-

Further down the beck is the waterfall Falling Foss. :-

This is in a Forest Trail of the same name established by the Forestry Commission.  Approach roads and car parks are provided, such is the popularity of this area.

They hadn't much further to go and knowing what was imminent they packed away their cameras and hurried on to Hawsker where wives and welcome pints of thirst quenching cold beer were waiting. :-

OK LADS......ONLY FIVE MILES TO GO!

TOMORROW, THE FINALE!