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| Sprint finish! |
The end is nigh with just one more hill to climb over Old Harry Rocks.. Looking west from the summit I could see the sweep of Swanage Bay way down below me, for all the world like closing a door on the past 29 days, days of isolated splendour mixed with days of harrowing even horrifying danger atop dizzy vertiginous cliffs and their vain quest to defend themselves from the interminable erosion of the wild Atlantic swells. Meanwhile, looking East through the warmest October heat haze for some 30 years, the beckoning golden sands of Studland Bay were full of the promise of a fun-loving reunion with family and friends, with 2 scallywag grandaughters determined that my reception should go with a big splash! And so it did. Emotions were on a high as I breasted the improvised finishing tape (to come first and last in the event!), picnics and drinks abounded under an astonishigly cloudless blue sky. Here also were the stalwarts who had given us such tremeandous support throughout the month and who had travelled long distances to give us the warmest of welcomes and made every inch of the Great Journey absolutely worth all the effort. What a moment to savour; what a moment to remember.Our sincere thanks and gratitude go out to everyone who "brought us home" and to all those who contributed so generously to Great Ormond Street Hospital's endless funding quest.
PS Although this was the last of our daily blogs, I intend writing a summary in the next day or two so, for the moment, there is no escape! (we'll also add a few more photos).
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Well Done Jack. Missed your last few days as we were up in the Land of oor Faithers. Glad to see the weather celebrated with you.
ReplyDeleteJack, you are a legend. I was hoping to run with you on Friday and turned up at Osmington Mills first thing - now to realise you had already steamed through there the day before and were way ahead of me. Nice day by the sea though, but how could I have underestimated you? Glad to see you finished in such fine form. You are a real inspiration, totally mad, but I know from long days in the JR hospital in Oxford with my little boy, just how much the funds will mean to GOSH, and hats off to you for taking on the challenge and raising so much for improving conditions for the sick children there. Make sure you visit there soon and they will make you really welcome. And thank you so much for raising money, providing such an inspiration, and such a great story to follow! All the best, Ben from the Padstow-Rock ferry.
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