Scarborough District

Today was the last day of the C2C trail but it wasn't going to let me off too easily just because it was the last day. It was a 25 km hike with an initial 230 metre elevation gain out of Grosmont. I saw a British couple that I had met yesterday just ahead of me. They were doing the trail over 12 days and we're very strong hikers so I just let them go. I stopped for a clothing change towards the top of the grind and never saw them again. At the top of the grind I was once again on the Yorkshire moors. More moors. They have their beauty but after 4 days of moor hiking I had had enough. I dipped down into the pretty Little Beck Woods, a pretty forested area with a small river and waterfalls. Also home to a boulder which had been carved out by someone in 1790. Afterwards I headed up in elevation for more moors. Uncultivated land higher in elevation and covered by heath. The first set of moors were transected by a road but the second one merely had a path which in spots was boggy and my feet and runners got a little wet. One of the highlights of the day was finally casting my eyes on the North Sea. Shortly after I stopped at an honesty box on a farm that was in an old camper. There were chairs to sit on or in the event of rain, one could sit in the caravan. Fortunately I was blessed with another day of no rain so I sat outside. After a short lunch I continued down to the sea where I followed the coast at the very top of high cliffs before reaching Robin Hood Bay. RHB is a very touristy town hugging the coast. I also noticed an increase in the BMI index compared to everyone I had previously met along the C2C. I made it to the finish at the Bay hotel in a very good 6 hours and 15 minutes. Waiting for me at the finish line were Dexter the dog and his owners. They had walked 2 hours past Grosmont last night and stayed at a farmhouse B and B. It was fun to have someone to share the end with. I performed the last two customs of the hike. I dipped my shoes in the North Sea but mistimed things and got a soaker. I threw my pebble into the sea but then retrieved it to bring home as a souvenir. I sat with Joanne, David and Dexter for awhile before they left to get a bus to Whitby to start their journey home. I had arranged for a cab to take me back to Grosmont. When I made it back to Grosmont and tidied myself up I headed out to the local pub only to learn that their kitchen had closed early, it being Sunday. These women I was sitting beside felt that there weren't any other options without a car. The best they could do was French fries and apple crisp. I passed on the ice cream. Filling but not very healthy. I can only imagine how my cholesterol levels are doing. Off to London tomorrow via Middleborough and York on the train.Read more