Coast to Coast Yomp 2015 video

Here are snippets from the walk that I put together to try and give you a feel during the 6 days we completed the 190 mile yomp from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay. 

Since then we are still recovering from swollen ankles and hamstrings but it was all worth it. Altogether with all the support and donations the amount of money raised so far is over £3000. 

My and my brother would like to thank everybody who helped out. We will be presenting a cheque to the Hayward House Hospice very soon.
Thanks again, Ants and Jon!

DAY 7, the final stretch!

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!

DAY 6, Moor of the same

Captains Morgans Log: 9/4/2015

Today was a very arduous day in terms of our physical and emotional stress. If you think of films with Richard Pryor / Gene Wilder or John Candy / Steve Martin, then you know where we are coming from.

We set off very early from Osmotherley for Glaisdale this time through some of the North Yorkshire Moors. The terrain was very different again as there was a sense of total silence as we yomped through. My brother Jon had to stop for a bit as the already swollen ankle was really causing problems, So an Early long break was in order. There were no worries with timings as we could make it up during the day. 

Around the moors there are pockets of beautiful idyllic villages and with the mixture of the really hot weather it turned out to be a beautiful day. We had to make a bit of a move on as our mother had arranged to meet up with us in Glaisdale ready for the last stretch tomorrow.

Eventually we made good time and reached Glaisdale. To our surprise instead of camping, our mother treated us to a bed and breakfast at the Arncliffe Arms before the last push tomorrow to complete the 190 miles in 6 days.

It feels a little strange that tomorrow has come around so quickly despite all this time on the roads, paths and terrain with bergens that now seem to be part of our body.

One thing I forgot to mention was the traditions of Coast to Coast. At St Bees you dip your shoes into the sea and the same for when you reach Robin Hoods Bay. But Also you pick a pebble from St Bees shore and throw it into Robin Hood Bay sea once you arrive.  

That is it for now and I'll report on the last day tomorrow. 

DAY 4, Day to remember.

Captain Morgans Log: 7/4/2015.

Today, April 7th is the day our father Jim Greentree passed away 2 years ago at Hayward House hospice, the place we are now raising money for to help other people such as dad in their final days. 

It was a very cold start this morning, our bodies are really feeling the brunt of the past couple of day. Blisters, muscle pain etc. Pankillers are our new best friend. Yesterday we were truly knackered. We could hardly move, but like an engine we had to keep moving. The terrain was already changing to very long inclines and leg punishing declines!

The scenery is breathtaking. We headed past Kirkby Stephen, a very busy road and then through to Nateby where at the Black Bull, the owners very kindly made us a Coffee. The most bizarre sight of the day was seeing two sets of macaw parrots flying by! The weather was glorious as we walking up the very long Nateby path through the North Yorkshire dales to Keld. We stopped and sank an amazing omelette at a glamping and bunk house in Keld. 

From there was our final leg of the day to Fremington Dales bike centre. This was the first night of sleeping in a bed!! Before we got there we stopped for a diet coke at the Kings head in Gunnerside and carried along the River Swale toward Reeth and finally Fremington which were both hosts to the 2014 Tour De France! We finished to a wonderful meal at the Bridge Inn. Landlord was laughing that we could hardly move once we started relaxing! We raised a glass of Rum and Coke to our Dad. We felt he was very much with us today x