Day14 - Thursday 19th May
North Water Bridge - St Cyrus
(13km / 190m ascent)
We leave reasonably early, and we set a cracking pace and so we soon haul in Challengers who set out before us. The weather is overcast but fine and we take huge enjoyment from the even pace we set ourselves. The Den of Morphie flies past without a break in step (a real swine the first time I came across it ten years ago) and we positively fly up the Hill of Morphie.
All of a sudden we are there - on the cliff top, looking down at the beach. The tide is not too far out and the path down the cliff is newly repaired and quite splendid. We whizz down the cliff and are soon shaking hands in the North Sea and taking photos of each other.
So, it's back up the cliff path and off to the pub for a celebratory pint - well coffee any way, as we had walked so quickly we were at the pub well before opening time! A quick lunch and then we jumped on the bus with a load of other leathery faces and bulging rucsacs. New friends are chattering away, but every now and then the bus falls silent, as it dawns on everyone that the walk is now over.
The Kinnaird Room at the Park Hotel is all smooth efficiency, with Roger doling out the certificates, Patricia making teas and coffees like a trooper and JD doling out the shirts and sweatshirts. I never have the right words with me to thank Roger for making all this possible, but I hope that grinning like an idiot gets it across.
I sit for a while reading the comments book, not yet wanting to find my room - as then the walk will be over. In the buzz of this room stories are flying back & forth of slips, mishaps, mis-locations - all thefun of the Challenge. Names and addresses are being exchanged - firm friends have been made all over Scotland.
I realise that I am listening to excited descriptions of everyone's walks and am making mental notes of 'must see' places to include on my next Challenge. Time to call up Lynnie it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow, and her birthday - it will be wonderful to actually be home to celebrate it with her!
Besides - I need a little beauty sleep as Phil & I still have the last bit of training to do at the bash tonight!
