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.