Coast To Coast Day 7 - only two remain

[Tony]

Day 7 Richmond - Osmotherley. 40km (221km total)

Yesterday Martin got a lift with Ruth back to Bradford, never to be seen again. Eddie had persuaded Jane to replace Martin at the Lion Inn and Grosmont on Friday and Saturday. A romantic weekend for four! Eddie offered to provide support for me and Mick on this 26 mile slog. The plan was for him to meet us at key points in his car while carrying our rucksacks. Every three miles or so at some road junction Eddie would be there to water us and let us tuck into our choccie bars.

By lunchtime at Danby Wiske we decided it was time to relieve Eddie of his services, so he could head down to Cambridge.

The going was very tedious as it was mainly road and track walking and the pace which was exceeding three miles an hour slowed considerably as the afternoon wore on. Mick was obviously hobbling along and it was only a matter of time before he announced he was heading home in the morning. By the time we got to Ingleby Cross the going was literally painfully slow.
It felt like the Coast To Coast adventure was coming to an end, unless I would, or could, battle on as a lone adventurer.

[Mick]
Yes, too many Sundays spent recovering from hangovers, watching football or playing on Geoff's Nintendo 64 instead of tramping up hill and down dale has left me not very fit. I haven't previously experienced not actually being able to put one foot in front of the other before, but at Ingleby Cross, heading up the hill to Osmotherley, it got a bit pathetic. There was no option but to bail out. As Tony has just remarked 'like all good cricketers, you get to 200 not out and then declare'. After 202, almost consecutive, kilometres, I've declared.

Coast To Coast Day 6 - the (terminal) breaking of the fellowship

[Mick]
Day 6 Keld - Richmond. 35km (181km total)
After about an hour of walking we realised that Eddie & Martin's walk was over. Martin's toes had got no better and Eddie's knee looked bad.

A plan was formed for Tony and I to carry on as planned while Eddie & Martin would find their way back to Bradford to pick up a car, then come back to drive 'support' for us.

So, Tony & I set off at mega-yomp pace to make Reeth for lunch - which we did at 1.30ish - 12 miles on from Keld.

Reeth is a beautiful, picturesque place with a large central green bounded by B&Bs, tea shops and pubs. Perfect. Definate place for a stop nest time.....

PM was 12 miles again, so we aimed for 7pm arrival in Richmond and set off, earmarking 2 stopping points en-route. We made very good time through showers and wind and a bit of sun as well. Eventually a rainbow appeared over our destination and we headed towards it gratefully through fields of new-born lambs.

Keld - Reeth was along the Swale (not as recommended by A.W.) but Reeth - Richmond was over the hills through countless farms & fields. Both 'legs' were absolute typical picture postcard Yorkshire - a lovely walk in all.

[Tony]
We arrived in Richmond ahead of time at 6.15. It took a little time to find our B&B but when we did we felt that we had found somewhere a bit too posh for us, our smelly clothes and our kit explosions. It was a grade 2 listed Georgian building with furnishings to match. The double bedroom was complete with a book of love poems on one bedtable and a book of insults on the other...

[Eddie]
Martin & I left the Swale at the first road we crossed, considering stiles and gates too difficult and expecting to make better progress on the tarmac.

We decided to hitch-hike and were picked up by about the 10th car to pass (note this took about 45 minutes as it's a very quiet road!) We now recommend this technique: Both hitch, both turn to the traffic & both smile!

Martin & I were picked up by 'the man from the Pru' who took us all the way to Richmond (we waved at Reeth) in time for a late lunch. The afternoon was spent formulating a cunning plan whilst sitting with an ice cream in the river.

Cunning Plan = Ruth rescues Martin & Eddie and returns with them to Bradford.