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Published: September 9th 2015
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Monday 17 August -Leaving Chop Gate, we headed across more lovely heather clad moorland, rising slowly up a gentle incline to the isolated Lion Inn pub, looks nothing from the outside, but pure 16 th century pub inside, with low beams and narrow staircases. It is a real rabbit warren, little bars and nooks everywhere, and our little bedroom was up a wee stone staircase that led straight from the main dining room! We arrived in time for lunch, another short days walk, and it was really nice to rest up in the afternoon. Great pub meals, we were surprised that the place was so busy, seems to draw in people from all over Yorkshire, as well as walkers like us. Rosemary and Don from Vancouver joined us for dinner, we have really enjoyed walking with them on a number of days of the walk so far.
Alas, the next morning brought a nasty surprise - rain, cold, fog, and wind blowing across the moors, our worst day of weather and an unpleasant walk to Grosmont, although fortunately mostly downhill. Keith got very cold and we thought he might be heading towards hypothermia so we stopped at the Arncliffe Arms
at Glaisdale for hot soup, food and warmth. No harm done, and we made it into Grosmont in time for a hot bath before our steam train ride to Whitby and back on the famous North Moors Railway. And we had a huge attic room at our B and B, complete with a large claw foot bath at the foot of the bed! Seemed rather odd in away but pure luxury!
So grateful to the weather Gods, our final C to C day dawned clear and sunny, and we headed straight up the mile long ascent out of Grosmont. We had to walk 25 km to Robin Hoods Bay, which made for a rather long but great walk, through woods, alongside streams and across fields to the final run down the coastal path to the finale! Managed to lose John and Maureen on the way as they got too far ahead, and we meandered, stopping for a leisurely lunch and coffee at Falling Foss cafe, and refreshments at the pub in High Hawkser. It felt like we didn't want the walk to end, but end it did, down a long steep descent to the water at Robin Hoods Bay,
where we dipped our boots into the North Sea (well it was high tide so we bathed them in the sea really - and threw in our pebbles collected from the beach at the start of the walk at St Bees. Of course we followed tradition to the full with a celebratory drink in Wainwrights Bar, and then met up for a grand finale dinner at the Victoria Hotel. Booked for 9 and ended up with 15 - friends from our walk joined us to celebrate our joint achievement.
Actually a real highlight of the walk is the friendships you make as you meet up along the walk. Well we made it! We had walked 192 miles or 300 km across England, hard to believe really. With our walk over, we all dispersed the next morning, but I am sure there will be lots of reminiscing when we get home. It was an awesome time and one we will never forget.
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Congratulations!
I've enjoyed being along for the walk.