Tuesday 3nd August - Robin Hood's Bay to Manchester (300Kms more or less) - Take Me home Country Train

JR here:-

Today was very relaxing, we got up about 07:00 to farewell Al who's on his way back to Oz via Heathrow. Pete, Col and I left Robin Hood's Bay about 09:00 by taxi to Whitby to await our train to Manchester. The wait was enlivened by a visit to the public toilets which, apart from complimentary hand lotion in the mens, featured a Dyson Air Blade hand dryer which was astonishing effective in drying my hands nothing at all like the usually ineffective huff and puff things we have in Australia. It was a long wait for the train and Pete spent some time exploring the town while Col and I read our books and investigated the capabilities of the station cafe. While we've had some fabulous food, the inability of the general run of british eateries to deliver anything other than the same selection of mediocre food makes you appreciate the imigrant contribution to Australian food. Some of us can remember what Australian food was like in the 60's and 70's before the Italians, Greeks and other imigrants got at it.

Local train to Middlesborough then the express to Manchester. Interesting to see the country we tramped over at great effort from the windows of a train doing 100ks - picture book England all the way - and a different perspective on the fells and high moors. Eventually got to Manchester and Col and I had to run to make the connection to the Airport - Pete having decided to stay in town. Currently watching the Simpsons' in German (or one of the other northern European languages - its what your international traveller does apparently) in our room at the Radisson after a pleasant dinner and a bottle of Argentinan Pinot Gris at, by Austraian standards, a ridiculous price. Wine was very good by the way in my view the best we've had on tour.

Col here:-

Not a lot I can add to JR's summation of the day . Did get a chance to finish my book as a typical travel day meant lots of sitting around waiting fot the actual transport to arrive.

Last night's B&B was quite good - hosts were very attentive and even if the beds and shower were only just large enough to actually use they did treat us very well.

Also yesterday showed we have got fitter on our travels as Pete challenged JR to a race up the hill from the sea at Robin Hood's Bay and they both arrived at the top relatively intact :-)

So the three musketeers have started to disband with D'Artagnan (Al) leaving early this AM leaving Athos, Porthos and Aramis to soldier on. Mind you Al might not get his upgrade or be able to catch an earlier flight so he could be living in the Qantas club for a couple of days.

Tomorrow sees the joys of a 13 hour flight to Bangkok where Pete and I will be dining with Johnno and Aumie whilst JR has a short rest before a further 9 hours to Oz.

Then brother should arrive an we will hopefully catch up with Woody.

Monday 2nd August - Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's (30Kms or part thereof) - A2Z of the C2C

A is for Albert, Susan, and Liz, Dick, Lydia, Johanita and others we'll miss.
B is for blisters of heel, ball and toe and unless you fix them no further you'll go.
C is for contours along which we walked to avoid the peaks at which we baulked.
D is for a detour down into a rut which is what happens when you take a short-cut.
E is for exhausted which is what you will be, when the C2C has finished with thee.
F is for flies that Colly harassed, we all stood aside to let Colly pass.
G is for GPS, Guide Book and such or your navigation is not up to much.
H is for hirsute which now we are not, because to the end of the walk we have got.
I is for indian but not the red kind, the burning sensation is all in your mind.
J is for Julia of video fame, she made it look easy so she should be blamed.
K is for Kidsty a very high Pike, which has views that we quite like.
L is for lost which we were not but not from any talent we've got.
M is for methane from cows who have gas, you could power the country on what comes out their ass.
N is for nettles which line all the roads, some are so strong it'd slow a cane toad.
O is for OH NO, not another big hill.
P is for pain which makes us all strong, just why does it have to take so long.
Q is for quick which is how Colly walks, Pete and Al just like to talk.
R is for rain and wetness profound, making you sink in boggy ground.
S is for stones that you throw in the sea.
T is for turds spread around, fragrance du nord anglaise is profound.
U is for (udder) misery when it gets wet, and the cows have churned up the beck.
V is for vertigo which afflicts some, 10 feet from the edge was a close as they'd come.
W is for Wainwright who invented this bash, just as well the ... is ash.
X is for exceptional hosteleries.
Y is for why, why, why.
Z is for zippity do dah, zippity aye, I'm leaving for Australia today.

Sunday 1st August - Glaisdale to Egton Bridge (3kms) - Grosmont Choo Choo Why Don't You Choo Choo Me Home

JR here:-

Very short day today. Our accommodation was at Glaisdale which is 16kms from Blakey Ridge and we could have gone back to Blakey Ridge and started from there but we've had more than enough of the moors. Today's stage took us to Egton Bridge down the valley of the Esk. What wasn't through the woods along the river was on the road so it was easy travelling. The path is mostly paved with large and very worn stones so clearly its been in use for a very long time. We pressed on to Grosmont (another whole 3kms) which is the home of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which runs vintage steam and diesel trains. It was Yorkshire Day so the railway was running short trips and we were able to get some video. Had a look round the workshops and returned to Egton Bridge by train - beer, lunch and a nana nap being the order of the afternoon.

Col here :-

Enjoyed what was basically a rest day as our accommodation was a few kms closer to the venue for tonights penultimate stay at the Horseshoe Hotel in Egton Bridge so we decided to spend the day as JR said at the Railway Museum and saw some steam trains (a la title). Apart from that had a nice day lying around reading my book and resting. Weren't happy at the result of the Rugby when it filtered through (we were flogged) and not quite sure what Drew Mitchell did to get sent off or at what point in the game it happened. It seems that the Poms are not that interested in any overseas sport and the first 10 pages of the Sports section in the paper is about soccer only. Very boring!!

Also my apologies to Dick (previously blogged as David). I will correct this in previous blogs when we can get the Internet again. Don't think we will get a connection tonight. Very quiet and peaceful little village here in Egton.

Al here:-

Gawd almighty that was sooooo difficult today, I just wanted to go on and on and on but somebody stopped me after 6km at Grosmont, home of steam trains that could have taken Harry Potter to Hogwarts. Lots of huffing and puffing that reminded me of some of our moments climbing the bloody big hills in this country. All in all a quiet day in two lovely villages.

Peter here :-

Having almost 16 overnight stays one of the disciplines of the Coast to Coast is to be able to be up and packed each day. The Boyz awake about 6 each day, Breakfast is at 8 and we have usually got our luggage at the front door of the accomodation by 9 then we're off. Pubs (where available) do not open for lunch to around 12:30 so we will probably stop for elevenses beforehand. Most times the luggage will have arrived before us (If not we have a few cleansing Ales until it arrives or if too tired have cleansing ales anyway and bugger the luggage). Then the first trap - out of the 17 nights accomodation 14 for Col and I were up 1 or more flights of stairs!. OK for most but Col's pack and mine are over 20kgs. We have perfected a technique to ensure we don't fall base over apex due to tiredness or any other reason our faculties are reduced. Into the room, open window (ventilation required before taking off shoe and socks), select bed, shower and freshen up before dinner at 6 and bed by 9. Then repeat. This I refer to as The Coast to Coast Progressive Pub Dance :-), so its progressive pub dance, walk walk stop together; walk walk stop together; walk walk stop together;twin bedroom tango tango; samba asleep, progress. Only one more to Robin Hood Bay !!!