Back Home!

Everyone was kinda quiet on our last morning.  During our drive to York from Robin Hood's Bay, David broke one silence by starting to name all the surfaces on which we walked -- pastures, stream beds, rocks, stones, peat bogs, star moss, sledge grass, moors, bridges, fords, railroad beds, lead tailings, blue slate, manure of assorted types and age, dirt tracks, up and over stiles, through kissing gates, across highways and along roads.  Ben will be heading to Nepal in a few weeks to lead a trek whilst Dave and Sue will be off to Greece next week to lead a sea kayak tour around the island of Milos.

After hugs goodbye at the York rail station, Peter and I took a cab to The Bloomsbury, our B&B, to deposit our luggage and then headed back to the city.  We popped into a French cafe for a mid-morning latte and croissant and enjoyed watching an accordion busker and all the people walking by.

It's beginning to sink in that our C2C adventure is coming to an end.  We explored some of the shops before heading to York Minster, a beautiful Gothic cathedral that was built beginning in the late 1200's.

 We learned several interesting facts from a friendly docent, e.g., Hitler expressly told his troops not to bomb York Minster because he wanted to march into York as had William the Conqueror in 1066.  When I inquired about all the screens that obscure the stained glass, we were told that the lead repairs to the glass had made the windows too heavy and that efforts to remove the lead and restore the windows were to begin in a couple of years.

We walked along the city walls before stopping for a hearty lunch at Betty's.  We got too full on the potato leek soup and an egg and mayo sandwich to sample any of its many famous pastry desserts.  After resting our legs at the B&B, we enjoyed a delicious dinner.  All of the English restaurants or pubs where we dined served a bowl or plate of freshly steamed vegetables family style.  I like being able to choose my portions.

After a pleasant day exploring this historic walled city, we left the next morning in heavy rain for London.  Arriving back in Earl's Court (Kensington) under sunny skies, we deposited our luggage at Hotel Indigo and took the Underground to Westminster Abbey.

Regrettably, the Abbey had closed early so we headed over to the Churchill War Rooms for a brief tour.   Joining the hustle and bustle of people at the close of their business day,

we headed back to an Italian restaurant where we had dined previously and enjoyed our last dinner in London.

The Underground and Heathrow Express transported us to the airport where we caught our flights home.  After 12+ hours of flying and being up more than 24 hours we were relieved and very glad to see Eben waiting for us at baggage claim!

The apples and pears are ripe and ready to be picked.  The Italian prunes were sacrificed to the rainy and windy weather that predominated while we were away.  We have mostly unpacked and are making a slow adjustment back to Pacific Daylight Time.

What an adventure this has been!  Once underway, I never doubted that I would complete the walk.  Blisters were a nuisance but, with appropriate bandaging, were manageable.  Legs were tight and weary at times but, after stretching and once walking, stepped up to the challenges of terrain and miles.  It truly was one foot in front of the other as well as appreciating where one was and what one was doing in that moment...  and not looking ahead and not dwelling on what was behind...  but finding that place of "this is where I am and want to be."  Many thanks to Ben and Dave as well as to my fellow travelers, Liz, David, Jim and Helen.  Most of all, my love and gratitude to Peter -- what an extraordinary way to celebrate and commemorate our 35th wedding anniversary!