Day 47 has been a humdinger of a day consisting of more amazing people, glorious views, a slap in the face, some reflection and 18 miles walked.
To wake to the sound of seagulls was magical. I was staying last night in the Home Arms Guest House in Eyemouth and was made to feel so welcome and given such a delightful room with glorious views over the sea that after a good meal of Eyemouth Scampi and a glass of red wine I managed to have an almost unbroken 7 hours sleep. I was feeling great and the plaintive, repetitive calling of the gulls had some form of soporific effect as it brought to mind happy boyhood memories of holidays by the Sea in Cornwall. Memories of my first kiss in a sand dune, the gentle whooshing of the waves rolling on to the beach. Memories of great times spent with my own children surfing with the porpoises off of Bertha’s Beach in the Falklands and of eating a packed lunch in a sand storm with the children as a family of king Penguins came to make their hilariously inquisitive, noisy and boldly smelly investigation of who we were on their beach on the Falkland Islands. Memories of beach games played, rock pools explored and messages in the sand. I woke with a smile and fond memories.
But I had a long way to walk before getting back for the bus, train, bus I needed to catch to get back home so up I got to go and order my packed lunch before breakfast and the walk. I was given a great tip by Zoe at the B&B so popped next door to Claire’s kitchen to be met by Claire and Keira who could not have done more to meet my extraordinary request for an egg mayonnaise with salad roll in a brown roll and a broccoli, carrot, tomato and grape veggie pick and mix bag. They couldn’t do grapes so did strawberries instead. It was a genius combination. Clearly they needed to know why I needed so much veg and as they were both so cheerful and positive I thought they might like the challenge so told them all about it. They could not have been more generous and supportive so thank you Claire and Keira. I very much hope you come and join me on the journey. It is quite an adventure but thank you for looking after me so well. Great food made by great people makes for a great combination.
Packed lunch done I had a fantastic fried breakfast at the Home Arms B&B with probably the best cooked egg I have ever had. The fog outside wasn’t lifting and the wind was building but it wasn’t going to get any better by waiting and I had a long way to go before meeting a dear old friend I hadn’t seen for a couple of years before catching the bus – so just had to get on with it.
I set off and almost immediately got stopped in my tracks by Robert Johnston and his dog Tara. He just wanted to say hello but left with a promise to look up the challenge. I very much hope you find me Robert and if you like what you read please help to raise awareness through your friends and find some more sponsors. Great meeting you this morning – and thank you for stopping to say hello.
It was a good walk along the coastal path of East Berwickhire from Eyemouth to St Abbs Head and back again. The views were limited by the fog but my head was clear and the blustery wind made for a more atmospheric experience as I heard the chiming of what I presumed to be a fog bell coming from Eyemouth. On I walked savouring the rocky coastline, the sound of the waves slapping against the rocks, and the wind blasting a raw freshness across the face like I had stuck my head out of the sunroof on an A road. I was alive, feeling great and about to stop for a Mocha in St Abbs. I found the Ebbcarrs Café and was served by Kellyann Barnett and Iona Stobbart. Mocha and a flapjack was the order of the day as I sheltered from the wind and it was the most delicious Mocha I have ever tasted. It was like drinking pure chocolatey velvet. Heaven. Kellyann and Iona were so cheerful I knew I had to let them know about the challenge and left with a promise secured to look me up. I hope you find me and if you like what you read do please help me raise awareness further through your friends or any way you can – thank you. As I started to put my kit back on to resume the walk I met Matt Beresford from Nottingham. We discovered that we were doing exactly the same walk but decided that I would crack on after telling him about the challenge but taking some comfort that there was going to be somebody else out today and that we could link up again later.
On I pressed and hit a decision point in the path when I could follow a lower level path that crept around the back of the higher cliff top path or I could stick to the coastal path and tackle some small hills. The hills won – I wanted to get the blood pumping. As I walked I started to become more and more engaged by the sights and sounds of the sea swirling around the various stacks that formed part of the coastline. I have always felt drawn to the sea and was loving being in such a wild environment in such wild but not crazy conditions. Later in the walk I found myself on top of one of the higher cliffs peering down, a distance from the edge, at the sea swirling around a stack set slightly back from the cliff. I found the sight of the sea swirling around the stack had a mesmerising effect. Over the sound of the wind blustering past, with the tickty tickety tickety tickety flapping of my waterproof jacket in the wind and the slapping of the waves against the rocks and the whooshing of the sea around the stacks I found the muffled cries of the gulls like siren voices. I was getting drawn to the edge, almost hypnotised by the swirling patterns of the ocean but certainly lost in the curious new world going on beneath me. I wanted to look closer and closer……and closer…………….and closer…………………and closer until …………………SLAP!! The wind had swirled up the cliff face, caught an adjustable strap on the arm strap of my rucksack and given me a right good slap across the face. It snapped me straight out of whatever strange place I had lost myself in. I rubbed my smarting cheek and thanked God for watching over me as I stepped back from the edge a little shaken but okay. As I got a better sense of my bearings and where I needed to go I saw Matt in the distance and although he did not see me as I waved enthusiasically at him from the cliff top I at least knew that he was following in my tracks.
On and on I walked passing memorial bench after memorial bench after memorial bench and memorial woodland overlooking what must be, in good visibility, glorious views. They gave me cause to be thankful for the love and friendship I was receiving in my fight but also to reflect and remember those I have lost. Father, Grandparents and Friends and be thankful for the moments we shared as we approached all souls on the 01 Nov . At the St Abbs lighthouse I linked up with Matt and walked the 9 miles back to Eyemouth thankful for his company as I learnt of his work as an Archaeologist. We parted at Eyemouth with a shake of the hand and then I prepared to meet up with the amazing Alison Sutherland who has watched over and supported me and so many of my friends for so many years from her position in the Regimental Headquarters of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. She read in my post from yesterday that I was in Eyemouth and without hesitation found a way to come and meet me after the walk. We shared a lovely time together as I told her of some of the brilliant experiences of the challenge and learnt of her new adventures since the closing of the Regimental Headquarters and of her new and very exciting job at Paxton House. It was so lovely to be able to catch up, over a Mocha and a Flapjack, with such an amazing and supportive person. Thank you for making the time to come and see me Alison and for being so supportive. You have emboldened me for the future considerably.
So today has been a great day during which I found myself never to be alone and to be thankful for the love and support of such great friends and family.