Stage 20 Trows to Byrness (THE END)

The day starts with a 30 minute mini bus (courtesy of the B&B), then a 1.5 mile , 300 meter sole destroying climb back Windy Gyle and the Pennine Way. Once at the top the climbing continues to the next top, and the next top. Today we have choices. An extra 1.5m climb to the Cheviot peak which adds about 2 hours to the day. Why not was the question. I could give lots of reasons why not, the blister on my heel was to say the least painful and causing me to put more weight on my right foot, making its blasters and planta fasciitis on that foot worse. But we have walked this far so the top it was. The views are stunning. Back down the leg and on to Sch*** hill. These climbs were not the hardest we had done, but today I found them really hard, mind you it was really hot and no breeze, even on the tops. The good thing was the surface was nice soft boggy land , but dry enough just to give your foot a little spring without sinking. Given the late start with the transfer we kept going all day and if I’m being honest every time I stopped I became so much more aware of my feet. By now I had two new blisters on my feet and a blister on my hand as I had been putting so much weight on my pole. At last the climb down, and the final choice, the original Pennine way route ( the low route) or the new way (the high route). Not because it was half a mile shorter but we decided on the original route, and we thought some valley walking might be nice and it certainly was. As we approached Kirk Yetholm we were met by our supporter cheering and decking us with flowers (my sister in law , Lynn). It was hard not to get emotional but we still had 0.5 mile to go. At last the photo shot at the end with the three Pennine wayfarers, myself, John and Garry my brother who did a total of three days with us. Garry had been snowed off when he first attempted it, and hence was doing the stages he had missed. After the photo shot and the free half pint we had to immediately eat as the kitchen was about to close. We had done it.

Borders Hotel – Kirk Yetholm – it’s a pub with rooms. The rooms were fine, the bed large and the bath welcoming. No view from the window, just a wall about one foot away. Food was good.