Day 14. The Final One, Grosmont to Robin Hood's Bay.

I have to confess to a little cheat at this point. Alfred Wainwright started the tradition, when he first wrote, "A Coast to Coast Walk," of wetting his boots in the sea at St. Bees and picking up a small pebble. The pebble is then carried right across England until the walker can paddle at Robin Hood's Bay, at which point the pebble from the Irish Sea is tossed into the North Sea. After the first day, I rationalised everything I was carrying and my pebble has travelled across England in the Packhorse minibus. I picked up two, as has everyone I asked, one to keep and one to throw. I wonder what geologists of the future will think when they find all these pebbles of a different rock on the wrong side of England?

Well I am tired, actually managing 8 hours sleep last night, my muscles ache from the knees down, and our adventure is nearing an end. 16 miles, hilly miles, finishing with a cliff top walk heading south, just as we started with a cliff top walk heading north, are all we have to do. The steep climb down the streets of Robin Hood's Bay will led us to our goal of a pint in the pub used by most Coast to Coasters. At one time a free drink was offered to anyone completing this; now I believe there is a record book to sign.

Today we started with a gentle warm up, straight up a hill at 33%. From there it was on a busy road, then over the moors with a few BPs  (boggy parts) and through the delightful village of Little Beck where Jackie had stayed some years ago. This led on to a nature reserve leading through a wooded glade and onto Falling Foss waterfall which both Jackie and I had previously visited. 

Next to it,  there was a house called Midge Hall. This had previously been a gamekeeper's cottage with no toilet, no electricity an no neighbours. The current owner had seen it on school visits as a child and had fallen in love with it. Years later she was married, found out that a builder had bought it and renovated it and moved in with her husband, two children and number three on the way. It still had no mains sewerage, electricity or telephone but was a lovely home offering teas to visitors in the garden. They are hoping to eventually have a hydro electricity system using the force from the waterfall.

After the woodland, we walked through more moors with occasional glimpses of Whitby Abbey. Sue was surprised by a snake but it was fortunately not an adder. We had our last picnic lunch, foot examination and consumption of painkillers to get us though the last section! Competed s and ibuprofen were passed around as needed and we were soon off again heading to the sea, finally in a straight line. 

First, we had to walk through a smart mobile home site then it was the long cliff top walk all the way to Robin Hood's Bay, re- routed in places due to coastal erosion. We were almost there when we spotted Frank and Nancy. They had found it too busy at the seaside and had retreated to the cliff top whilst waiting for their lift home. Eventually we reached the pub at the top of the slipway to find The Corgis sitting under the Coast to Coast sign at the Wainwright bar. Tales were exchanged, again,then pebbles were tossed, paddles were had, photos were taken, new pebbles were found and beer was had. More beer was had, then wine! 

Finally we decided to eat and eventually meandered up to our digs, wondering why day trippers were finding it hard to walk up the street- they should try Kidsty Pike or Honistor Hause. 

We said, "Farewell" to Jackie then spent the evening watching TV. Back to normality too soon after a tremendous adventure.