So we are home and looking back on a three super weeks. At the start, Paul asked, 'Will they make it?'  Course we did, we're from Yorkshire. Just as Paul predicted. Thanks for your confidence Paul.

It's been great to know so many people have been interested in our walk and the project in general. The number of visitors to the site has gone up and up and reached, well........ lots.

 

We now have to face reality and the pile of dirty/sweaty kit.

Our shoes are just about past their 'best by' date, in fact Chris's Reebocks, which have performed excellently, are almost smooth underneath and were ceremonially retired after the planting ceremony. My Brooks running shoes have a couple more walks left in them but not much more. They were brilliant throughout the walk. No foot problems for either of us.

We need to start thanking all the people who helped us on our way and first on the list are the members of   'Walking the way to  health' Goole and Howden groups. They walked with us from York to Hull over the first three days. For many of these walkers, all retired, this was a great personal challenge taking them well outside their 'comfort zones'.All those who made it to Hull are stars in their own right.

We were ably and enthusiastically supported by members of The Rifles T.A. from Doncaster. These young men are a credit to their unit and related superbly to the other walkers.

Those three days were a wonderful example of cooperation as the walkers helped and encouraged each other reach their finish. Their faces at the ferry terminal reflected their pride in their achievements. Thanks also to the drivers who ferried us back to start points and the T.A .drivers who drove the support vehicles. Oh, and Doreen who provided the rereshments at Hull.

I mentioned, when we wre getting ready to leave, that we seemed to have enough kit for about ten weeks. We are now unpacking it and I was wrong...we had enough for months. Most of it wasn't used because of the very good weather 'over there' (it's 20 degrees here today, we've been used to 30+ for the last couple of weeks). Why didn't we stay a bit longer? Probably because we are going back in about a month....... to walk, would you believe, in Austria and Germany again, more later.

 

All the clothing bags are on our bed so we have to sort them this evening or sleep in the spare room. We'd better get on with it. 

 

The picture is of the walkers, some of the TA guys and us at the ferry terminal at Hull.