Ottringham To Hull

That's more like it, I've been arsing about going from place to place and not getting lost for days now for goodness sake- well I was back on form today, I'd been dreading today what with having to negotiate the whole of Hull and all. I had cunningly devised a route bypassing most of the city and sidling along to the east via a scenic route. When I came face to face with a busy dual carriageway and two giant chimneys puffing thick white smoke from their giant gaping mouths it didn't seem so scenic suddenly. In fact I had turned West instead of East and was left with one of those nightmare stumbles along a grass verge to get back on course that I know so well. Actually If I'd have headed straight to the campsite where I'm going tomorrow it would have been decidedly quicker, but it was worth it for being able to stretch out in the bath in my luxourious room here at the Acorn Guest House - it's the first time I've been able to sit upright for a week and I feel strangely guilty about it.

Kilnsea To Ottringham

Went for a little walk this morning (it was still raining) and discovered that there was a pub 50 yards round the corner (after I'd been sheltering in me tent for hors on end!). Mind you I was drying the gear off at the time and could hardly have sat there with a pint of Smiths propped up against the bar in me undercrackers.
It was gloriously sunny when I set off but by the half hour mark I had hailstones bouncing off me head - in July! - what are the odds on that? well, pretty short as it turns out cos it happened again just after I'd pitched the tent and headed off toward the nearest town for provisions. These were even bigger, I felt as though I was being stoned to death and cowered beneath a bush until the cease fire was sounded.
I'm still trying to dry out the shirt from yesterday, cos I'd hung it out to dry just as the second storm broke, it was nearly dry when I set off but now it's like a dish cloth that's just been slung in a bucket of glue, also my one and only pair of trousers are now brown and green (they were creme when I got em from Primark last week).
Having a lovely time. Kev x

Withernsea To Kilnsea

Well hats off to Withernsea Sands campsite for not only being the worst place I've stayed at but also the most expensive (£22 for a patch of grass - paid in advance). Loved the retro toliet block - good to see the old chain flush up and running (would have been nice if somebody had pulled it now and again - why do kids never flush the bloody toilet!?). As I needed to hand my toilet key back to get the deposit back I asked at reception what time they opened - "About 8 O'Clock" I was told. "About 8am meant 9.05am as it turned out and when I delayed my departure for this the receptionist had the temerity to ask if I had slept in!!
After walking for half an hour today the heavens opened - and stayed open, and coupled with the odd lively wind or two the result was utter misery. Got to the site but walked past it (not surprising as it was someones garden), but there was nobody there, - found a little wooden cross with my name on it though (what do they know that I don't?). I am know holed up in the middle of nowhere - and I mean nowhere for approx 18 hours while I dry my gear off.
There's absolutely nothing here - not even trees! and I feel as though I've stumbled upon a horrible new world.
Wish you were here - Kev. x
P.S have just found a "Pot Noodle" so I will live to fight another day!

Aldwick To Withernsea

Spent the best part of 20 miles today being re acqui.anted with me old mate - the grass verge of the B1242. - I'm thinking of inviting it to the Blackpool reunion next month infact.

NATURE WATCH. - Spotted a Stoat/Weasel bounding along the road just outside Tunstall - or maybe it was just a Dach Hound that was a very long way away indeed.

Now pitched on the edge of Withernsea. Bobbed into town earlier and found a "Tescos" - WE EAT!!

Bridlington To Atwick

Well it's great to back, spent most of the day stumbling through thistles and nettles on the verge of the B1242, but I did see a Red Dear flounce across the road just outside Skipsea, though it was a distance away and could have been a Red Setter with no collar I suppose. (And no owner). Once again I am starving hungry due to the fact there is nothing here except a pub - "We don't do food on a monday". So had to make do with a packet of "Nobby's Nuts" washed down with a pint of Sarsons Vinegar masquerading as John Smiths Bitter.

The site its self is plaesant enough, perched as it is on the edge of a cliff, - I pitched my tent by the side of an old machine gun nest left over from the second World War - or at least I think it is. - It could be that there is zero tolerance to noise after midnight here.

Day 11 - Hinderwell to Whitby

The gorilla swanned into town this afternoon as if he'd never been away, as usual I head for a quiet spot (in this case a park) so as to get changed into me "civvies" - it was this act that resulted in me getting hoplessly lost (let's face I'm the world champion) and making what should have been a straight forward 10 mile amble into a 6 hour job. But hey, - I wouldn't have it any other way.

Strangest sight of the day when I came across an elderly chap when I was sitting down overlooking Runswick Bay necking a sly banana, bowling past me in skimpy shorts, blue knee pads and a solitary pick type thing in his hand. I can only think he was about to inch his way down the huge cliff - either that or he was putting shelves up.

It's the first time I've been to Whitby and I have to say I'm impressed, would definately bob back for a weekend sometime. So me and the monkey head back to Blackpool tomorrow for some comfy sleeps and some sustanance, I'm almost to the last notch of me belt, and he's not looking too chipper either.

Day 10 - Redcar to Hinderwell

That was exhilarating stuff - a good 16 miles of terrific scenery, scrambling up steep hills, bumbling through gorse bushes, and getting piss wet through.

It turns out that NONE of my gear is water proof. My "Hi-Tec super watertight walking shoes were water tight for approximately 30 seconds, though my cagoule to be fair to it lasted a full minute - well done! The same goes for my rucksack and cagoule bottoms or whatever you call them.

The camp site is all very civilized mind you, nesting boxes for doves, oak panelling in the wash room, radio 2 piped into the toilet block (I had a slash to Neil Sedaka earlier), and a camp chicken! - When I say a camp chicken I don't mean that it struts about with one claw on its hip, I mean that it seems to belong here.

Anyway, the bloke in the next tent has wind and I am about to climb into a damp sleeping bag (these two statements are entirely un connected).

Day 9 - Thornaby-On-Tees to Redcar

“Oh what a beautiful morning – Oh what a .....” I was really loathed to leave the camp site today, I was up early as usual and took a leisurely walk along the river Tees before breakfast ( seedless grapes and cherries – 2 for £3 from Asda). The sun was beating down again and it was almost hot at 7am, this is an incredible site placed as it is in the middle of the industrial North East, with Middlesbrough to the right and Stockton “You don’t want to go there it’s as rough as f...” On-Tees to the left. Located next to Durham University, it has a charm about it, pleasing on the eye, overrun with semi tame rabbits (as with many sites), and they’ve built one of those white water canoe courses on to the side of the river, in short, well worth a visit.
Anyway, I’m in Redcar now.

Day 8 - Dalton Piercy to Thornaby-On-Tees

This is getting bloody dangerous! After a winding walk through leafy dale and the chocolate box village of Dalton Piercy I was looking at a snarling A19 that looked like the M1 at about 5 O'clock on a friday, I tootled along the central reservation while huge juggernauts whistled past my left shoulder every 5 seconds, whooshing into the distance and blowing my hat off. (I had thought this to be a quiet country road). The gorilla has to be put away in his box on such occasions, for I need to see ALL around me and not just 2 little holes in front of me, as is the case with the mask on. I evntually stoppped at a petrol station for a Mars bar and picked up an A to Z for Durham - can't read these things either - too big a scale - can't see the whole picture.

Arrived here in Thornaby-On-Tees which is a spot on campsite, nice people, clean toilet block and a 24 hour Asda next door - FOOD! - I've been gorging myself all day long. Usually these places are in the middle of nowhere and starvation is always a possibility, many's the time I've been reduced to making a banana last all day and nibbling at the grass.