Captain Morgans Log: 10/4/2015.
So with roughly 15 miles left to do, the terrain still involved some of the moors, but mainly footpaths and a few hills in the mix. By now we were running on thin air. My brother Jon was existing on painkillers. Our hips, hamstrings and ankles were major issues. Again the frustration was that our energy levels were reasonable, but it was the weather beaten body we were having to drag around everywhere.
My brother was worse off and luckily because it was the last stretch, Jon made the decision not to take his pack. He was a bit upset with it as the bergen became part of our body for 5 days, but a sensible move. I reduced the weight in my bag and left fluids and first aid kit in the bag. Luckily our mother was on hand to store it in her car before she headed off to the finish to wait for us.
One of the first places we arrived at was Grosmont. This was to be one of the cycling routes for the 2015 Tour of Yorkshire. We had a coffee stop at the Hazelwood tea rooms and ventured up the steep hill towards Hempsyke.
The end of the yomp was in site but the biggest issue we encountered was the state of the footpaths. Some of the signs were not very clear and in some cases farmers decided to enclose areas making it difficult to get through. One place put an electric fence around and stopped the path entirely. In the end we just stuck to the B roads and carried on.
Our pace was getting slower through pain but then all of a sudden we could see Whitby. We had another 3 miles to go and we literally had to pull everything out the tank. As soon as we passed Hawsker we started to feel the coastal winds.
As soon as we saw Robin Hoods Bay on the brow we started a very slow run. By now we looked like something out of 'castaway' so we were getting a few strange looks from tourists. The emotions once again were starting to kick in. For myself it was the cycling coast to coast journey back in 2011 with my pal Martin King-Sheard and my Dad as backup team that brought it back. For my brother Jon it was a feat that, his doctors told when he left the marines, that he would never be able to do this sort of thing again. Well he proved them wrong. But also the pressure resting on our shoulders not from the bag but the amount of money raised and expectation. Finally also for our Dad and Hayward House.
We got to the very steep decline into the Bay and then all of a sudden Jon went for a sprint so I followed him as best as I could. Adrenaline took over at this point. We reached the sea pulled out our stones we picked up from St Bees and threw them into the sea. Our mother was not far behind and my brother Jon had a surprise appearing from his wife Yvonne and children.
We all headed back for cider, signing the Coast to Coast book at the The Bay Hotel and of course the AMAZING fish and chips to finish.
I would like to say a massive thank you for your support and donations. It has been the hardest thing we have ever done but enjoyed it immensely. Something we will never forget and the sibling banter as strong as ever. We would also like to say a huge thankyou to our family who suppprted us amazingly throughout! Thanks again!
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