Philip Williams   Writer & video biographer
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Saturday 7th September 2013

7/9/2013

 
Day 370
FINAL DAY OF THE WALK!
Peacehaven to Brighton
So. The very last day of the entire walk. 6,072 miles. Three and a half years in the doing. 370 days of walking. 6 pairs of boots. Over £60,000 raised so far. 

I went out for breakfast and then followed the concrete walkway round towards Brighton. The waves were crashing into the wall, catching me out at one point but I escaped a complete soaking! I felt fine for these last few miles but their significance wasn't lost on me! 

At 1.00 pm I arrived at Cafe Rouge in Brighton Marina and was greeted by a restaurant full of balloons, banners and cheering. There were around 45 of us there for lunch and I received a big cheer. The other customers looked puzzled, then cottoned onto what the lunch was all about and joined in too! Family and friends had travelled for miles to be with me today as I crossed the finish line. 

After lunch we all set off towards Brighton Pier. But first we had to negotiate the multi-storey car park. There was a crowd of us carrying banners and balloons threading our way through the car park ramps and staircases until we were able to get out onto the promenade. 

In the last few hundred metres the occasion finally got to me and although I tried to 'man-up' I think I failed epically! What a wonderful and special and emotional moment as I crossed the line under an arch of arms and ribbons and banners. I will never forget it. Thank you everyone for being there. 

Afterwards I tried to say a few words but really couldn't manage them very well. After which we all had a drink and hung out at the end of Brighton Pier collecting money as we did so. 

That evening we all went out for dinner at Cafe Delice where I was presented with a cake. Philippa had commisioned it and it featured a miniature me in hiking gear complete with rucksack, walking poles, boots and a Red Arrow - the rest of  the Red Arrows team weren't available! The Italian lady who had made the cake had left off Scotland, not realising that it is in fact part of the British mainland. Indeed, walking round Scotland accounted for about half of my walk! It looked brilliant all the same and tasted delicious. We finished the evening in the hotel bar!

The following day Philippa and I joined hundreds of other walkers at the Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk in Brighton. It was an emotional and fitting way to finish this stage of my adventure. More will follow, and I will continue to raise money for Alzheimer's in the years to come.

'Watch this space', as they say!

Friday 6th September 2013

6/9/2013

 
Day 369
Eastbourne to Peacehaven
My last full day of the entire walk! I left the B&B in Eastbourne and headed for Beachy Head. It started to rain, so on with my waterproofs which was the first time in ages that I have needed them. The 'Beachy Head Chaplain' passed me by at one stage and I hoped she wouldn't be needed today; or any other days for that matter. Then down to Birling Gap and over the Seven Sisters where I met a group of estate agents having a team-building day out. Some of them very kindly made donations. I had a pub lunch in Exceat, near to where I noticed a police forensics team which, as it transpired, was investigationg a suspicious death in the Seven Sisters Country Park. After lunch the weather cleared so I was able to strip off again. Then through Seaford, Newhaven and into Peacehaven for the night. I stayed in a B&B and had a Chinese dinner round the corner.

Thursday 5th September 2013

5/9/2013

 
Day 368
St Leonards on Sea to Eastbourne
I had breakfast with Alex and Jo and then off along the coast after bumping into Alex again in the town. Initially the route was on a cycle-way, then along the beach and latterly on lanes. In Bexhill I stopped for another breakfast!!! Then on round to Pevensey. On the eastern side of Eastbourne there is a lovely marina complex. I tried to check in at the wrong B&B in the evening and realised I should be at the one next door! I was picked up by an old friend and colleague called Sharon and we had dinner together with her partner Paul.

Wednesday 4th September 2013

4/9/2013

 
Day 367
Rye to St Leonards on Sea
A hard day today! Hot, with very steep sections of cliff walking. Made it to St Leonards on Sea and staying with my friends Alex and Joe.

Tuesday 3rd September 2013

3/9/2013

 
Day 366
New Romney to Rye
I left New Romney and followed the coast past Lydd-on-Sea and Dungeness, past the nuclear power stations. Then I was diverted inland by a security guard at the MOD firing range and, following a five mile detour via Lydd, got back onto the coast at Jury's Gap. From there I got onto the beach at Camber and then followed the cycle rout up to Rye.

Monday 2nd September 2013

2/9/2013

 
My birthday! Celebrated it at home with Philippa before returning to New Romney.

Sunday 1st September 2013

1/9/2013

 
Duncan drove me to Ashford station so I could catch a train back to London to celebrate my birthday with Philippa.

Saturday 31st August 2013

31/8/2013

 
Day 365
Folkestone to New Romney
ONE YEAR OF WALKING! Today I walked from Folkestone to a place near New Romney via Hythe, Dymchurch, St Mary's Bay, Littlestone on Sea, Greatstone on Sea and then caught a miniature train back to Hythe where I spent the night with my friends Angela and Duncan.

Friday 30th August 2013

30/8/2013

 
Day 363
Deal to Folkestone
Nicky drove me to the pier at Deal and I resumed the path from there. I had lunch at a lovely tea room near South Foreland and then on through Dover where I encountered some very steep sections of path. The first in a long time. Quite a shock to the system! Then onto Folkestone where I stayed the night.

Thursday 29th August 2013

29/8/2013

 
Day 362
Broadstairs to Deal
I walked with Nicky for a few miles to a pub just outside and for a Sandwich where we met Mark and their son Joshua. Then I continued onwards to Deal on my own. From there I took a train back to Ramsgate and got a lift back up to Broadstairs.

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