TraceysTrek

Best bits: bus driver who waited for me, watching the ships sail.

Worst bits: feeling so frighteningly physically depleted

Distance: 20 miles

As it went dark last night, I enjoyed watching the lights of the docks come alive. A few cars arrived in the car park playing music with thumping base and I wondered if I was going to get to sleep. However, they all seemed to leave early.

Today’s route had to be modified because of my reliance on public transport at the other end. So it was an early start to make sure I got to the end point in time to get the connection of buses back.

It was straight out on the seawall which was fine at first because it was a nice path near to the car park.

However very few people must walk on the extended route and the grass, nettles and spiky plants were often waist high. The ground was very uneven, full of raised clumps and holes and as a consequence my progress was very slow as I was apprehensive about where to place my feet.

I had a shock when two pheasants shot out from the undergrowth right next to me squeaking and squawking. Then a deer bounded across the path in front of me and out onto the wetland doing that graceful beautiful bouncy bounding jump they do. I stood and watched it in wonder. Angela would’ve loved to seeing that.

About 5 miles in there was an opportunity to come off the seawall which I took with gusto. Unfortunately, it meant walking on the road which was very quiet. 

There were the most awful noises coming from the barns of a farm I passed. I wasn’t quite sure what it was but it did sound like animals in some sort of alert.

I was walking on the opposite side of the estuary from which I came a couple of days ago. In the distance, I could hear the sound of some sort of alarm wailing. It seemed to be coming from across the water in some of the industrial area. It didn’t last very long so I assumed it was probably a test.

For a large part of the morning, I could see the Grimsby Dock Tower. It’s easy to understand that this was used for navigation purposes. There were also plumes of black smoke billowing out from the chemical works.

Most of the day was spent walking on small roads alongside absolutely enormous fields. The scenery really didn’t change at all hence the lack of photos today. It was straight roads, fields full of crops, blue sky and very flat and featureless. I didn’t see anybody today only wildlife which today included a massive rat which ran across the road right in front of me! 

I had to stop quite often today, every 3 miles or so as I was feeling very tired. I grazed on my snacks and took the opportunity to rest my feet and rehydrate. However by the time I had walked about 10 miles complete exhaustion had set in. It took all of my strength to keep going. I had to use every psychological trick in the book. I could feel my feet dragging and several times I caught myself wandering from side to side on the road as if I was drunk.

This came as a bit of a shock to me and since I started my journey this is the most physically exhausted I have felt. I was constantly checking the map and my watch to see how much further I needed to walk before I could take a rest or to set another target. I was also conscious of the timeframe I was working to today. At some points today I thought I might have to just collapse to the ground but was scared that if I did I might not get back up.

The first village I came to didn’t have anywhere to stop off and get refreshments or even anywhere to sit. At one point I had to sit on a remembrance memorial which made me feel slightly uncomfortable so I read every single name on it.

I practically staggered into the village of Patrington where first of all I visited the public toilets. I was so grateful that only a few meters away there was a café. I was absolutely desperate to sit down and get my shoes off. I ordered a cup of tea, a glass of water with ice and a jacket potato with cheese and beans in an attempt to get some fuel back into my sadly depleted body.

Even after consuming all of this, I still didn’t feel replenished and didn’t have the energy to speak to the staff. As I was leaving, I had to force myself to tell my story and give out cards and hearts to the staff. This is the first time I have had to do this.

I still had at least 6 miles to go all of which would be walking along busy roads. I summoned all of my strength and set off. More psychological games were required to keep me going. At least now I was walking along the bus route all be it in the opposite direction.

Eventually, I arrived in the outskirts of Withernsea and popped into Tesco to use the loo. As I was crossing the road I saw a bus approaching and so I started running towards the bus stop with my arm out. Thankfully for me, the driver kindly stopped and waited for me at the bus stop. It was a long journey and I struggled to keep awake. I then had to change buses which unfortunately meant a 30 minute wait by the side of the road, but at least the bus stop had a seat.

I was so relieved to get back into Priscilla, get my shoes off, make a cup of tea and jump into bed. I only got out of bed because I was hungry and needed to make food. That turned out to be good timing. 

For anyone that has seen Les Misreables this empty chair at an empty table should have been filled by Angela. It’s one of her blouses on there to remind me of her presence.

The tide was quite high and ships started to move up and down the channel. Many people came to the car park tonight to take photographs of this ship. It was the one from yesterday and now it was fully loaded and on its journey. It‘s cargo looks so precarious yet immaculately packed. I watched it while I ate my dinner.

The view from Priscilla as the sun started to set.

Some of the drivers of cars in the car park decided to have a horn honking contest. fortunately it was short lived as they weren’t creative enough with the tunes! So instead they played loud music!

Thank goodness it’s a rest day tomorrow.