Coast to Coast - Day 11 (Part 2)

Ingleby Arncliffe to Beak Hill Farm - 10 miles

After yesterday's walk, I took an Ibuprofen before turning in. I think it must have contained caffeine as I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me; I must have passed out from sheer exhaustion around midnight. Surprisingly, I woke up well-rested at 6 a.m. Maybe it was just a very bad and realistic dream.

Due to my efforts yesterday, I was in a great position to take it easy and do short 10-12 mile days until the finish line.

I set off with a spring to my step only to realise that I had to cross another busy road. Luckily, it was quiet at 7 a.m., so I strolled across it without any problems. The air was still a bit damp, and there was a chill that I could feel in my bones. As the first hour consisted of a good uphill walk, I warmed up really quickly. One of the highlights of the day was a sign that not only showed the distance to the starting and finishing points but the actual ascent and freaking steps loved it. Made me wonder how tall the person who measured it was and whether I would need to double the remaining 111,792 steps.

Once at the top, I finally had my first view of the North York Moors. They were gorgeous. The clouds gave it a sense of mystery that changed with every step I took. By the time I was halfway through the Scarth Wood Moor, the view was clear enough for several AAAHHHs and a few more pictures. Even though it was a slightly damp day, I was getting through my water supply very quickly. Finding an actual stream to top up my bottle was such a surprise that I almost face-planted into the stream due to a slippery stone and a happy heart.

After a lovely break by a very cute bench, I tackled the next incline. That's where I met Anthony. He is a lovely guy from York who used to do something I am doing now, but he did it on a national level. The word 'seriously' may have come up a few times.

We walked, chatted, laughed, and had a chance to test out our rain gear when the heavens threatened to open up. Luckily, it was only a short drizzle, but the gear stayed on. Anthony mentioned a cafe that was right in our path that I wasn't even aware of, so the prospect of hot chocolate gave me a nice boost and a goofy grin. Removing all my gear and even my socks was utter bliss. Realising that the heavens decided to open up after we made ourselves comfortable with our respective hot drinks was nice (did feel a bit guilty for everyone else, though). We talked for a good hour before we said our goodbyes. He still had another 12 miles to go while I only had about 1.5 miles left. As the rain was still coming down nicely, I decided to stick around and have another drink. I stayed for another hour.

My original plan for this section was to wild camp somewhere, but when I checked Alby's amazing notes, I realised that it simply wouldn't have worked. The area is heavily patrolled, and anybody found wild camping is asked to kindly move on. I really didn't want to risk that, so my plan was to knock at the nearest farmer's door and pray the answer to camping would be a YES. Luckily for me, it was plan B was to .... hmmm, do something else. Thanks, Alby, for saving me from an embarrassing and possibly uncomfortable night.

The farm was only 0.8 miles off the track, and I found the camping ground beautifully flat, the facilities exceptional, and the scenery stunning. After a long shower, even the sun made an appearance, so I quickly washed some of my gear and started praying that they would dry. I spent the evening huddled in my sleeping bag, reading and breathing in the Moors. After my big dinner, I moved all my wet clothes inside the big shower area, hoping they would dry overnight, and I decided to call it a night. No later, the rain started its wild song, and I had the most relaxing lullaby to fall asleep to.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a very wet day, but I'm here, doing something I love. The weather is always a bonus, not a defining factor to my enjoyment