Last post

Hey,


This will most likely be the last post of the Cornish Coastal Challenge blog, but not the last Challenge blog (watch this space).


I would have blogged sooner but my laptop decided to pack in on the way home from Cornwall.


I just wanted to share a little bit of my journey with you and share the pictures that I took along the way.


https://picasaweb.google.com/111844859232671488911/Cornwall15021st25thMay2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLKww76PlaaikAE&feat=directlink


I met some amazingly generous and kind people along the way and I would like to mention them here.  On Monday I flew down the side of a cliff into a little town called Boscastle.  I had been going around about 16 miles and this was where I was stopping for lunch, and boy did I need it.  I stumbled into a little cafe called The Harbour Light Tea Garden and managed to order a sandwich.  After a while I got into conversation with the owner about what I was doing and his family had been heavily affected by Alzheimer's and so very kindly he said lunch was on him and gave me £20 sponsorship! I have since called and thanked him for his generosity!
This certainly spurred me on in the afternoon and landed at Port Isaac where my cousins Mark and Jules met me with words of encouragement and delivered me to my accommodation.


This was the hardest time, I was worn out and didn't know how my body would cope with a quick recovery.  The thought of all the people I would be helping and who had wished me luck definitely made me motivate the next morning!


Lane End Farm was a wonderful place to stay and Nab and Linda Monk were exceptionally helpful and even moved me into their self catering bungalow annexe just so I could have an ice bath! They treated me amazingly and also donated to Alzheimer's! I will be sure to stay there if I get the chance again!


Tuesday saw me visit Padstow for lunch at the Fo'c'sle which was much needed! I then sat on a bench outside to put sun cream on and had a nice conversation with a family from New Zealand before heading off to Mawgan Porth.  I stayed at a place called Trevarrian lodge who were very accommodating and let me use a separate bathroom for my ice bath!
That night I ate at The Travellers rest where after conversing about why I was so mad to do what I was doing the staff contributed to the Alzheimer's society, very kind of them!


Portreath was my destination on Wednesday and a stop at Dolphin House which again was superb! The ice bath was welcomed with open arms and breakfast the next morning and the sandwich for my journey was well received!!


Thursday saw me pass through St Ives where I met Mum and Dad and Dad was going to run the last half of the day with me up to Pendeen and my next stop, The North Inn.  This was an exceptionally tough day, doing 35 miles and nearly 6000 feet of climb.
Whilst in St Ives and I was having a welcomed sit down on the bench I realised that the family from New Zealand who I spoke to in Padstow were again sitting on the next bench!  We got chatting and they were also very kind in donating to the Alzheimer's society! Small world!


The ice bath on Thursday was the best yet, a full bucket of ice!! Amazing!


That evening we met up with Dad's cousin and family, and also saw them in Penzance when I finished which was very nice and I hope to see them again soon!


Friday, the last day, even though in the morning I knew it was only one day, I still knew that it was a whole day of running and about 27 miles, but this seemed short in comparison to some of the other days! Dad was to meet me at the Minack theatre near Porthcurno to run the last section.


Penzance, my final destination appeared and Dad and I ran head on into the wind to finish near the Jubilee pool.  Wow, what a feeling that was! It took a little while to sink in that I had covered 156 miles in the last 5 days and the effort I had put in and how much I had pushed my body, my legs, my feet, my mind.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who sponsored me, who believed in me, who sent their wishes of luck before, during and after the run.  I want to say a MASSIVE thank you to Mark and Jules for supporting me and most importantly to my Mum and Dad who were there at the end and all the way through since the idea was born and always believed that I could complete it.


What more can I say other than I will be back blogging with something bigger and better!!!


Rob