Day 337
Benington to Boston
I dropped my bags off at another hotel in the centre of Boston where I would be staying the night and got a lift back to Benington. From there I walked back along the country lanes to Boston and visited Willoughby Grange run by Four Seasons Healthcare. I spent the afternoon with the staff and residents and had some lovely long chats with some of the visitors who talked to me about their lives spent farming in the local Lincolnshire countryside.

I left Skegness via a large chain of high street jewellers to get my watch mended, as it had become a stopwatch! All it needed was a new battery. Before taking the back off the watch, the person serving me decided to test the battery using an electronic sensor placed next to the watch casing. She pointed out that the battery was in fact working fine because the electronic device said so, and that there was a problem with the watch mechanism. They would be delighted to send the watch off for repair at significant cost. I pointed out that the watch battery hadn't been replaced for three years, that the watch mechanism was heavy duty and required a fair amount of charge in the battery to keep it moving, and that the device she had used was very sensitive, picking up what little remaining charge the battery held. All it needed was a new battery. I could see that she was committed to the service option and so I took my business to an independent jeweller a few doors down. Without any prompting from me, he looked at the faltering second hand, took the watch into his workshop and replaced the battery. It worked fine for £3.99. I can now tell the time again.

I set off from there at 11 minutes to ten and 24 seconds, joining a quiet country lane and then plodded along farm tracks on private land. Having already previously experienced the wrath of a local farmer on the issue of public rights of way I had stopped by a house on the edge of this land to check it was ok to walk the track. They were tenants, but said no one would mind, particularly as I was doing it for charity. Today was Armed Forces Day, and I saw a number of formation flights go overhead on their way to paying their respect at ceremonies around the country.

In the evening I made it to a lovely pub in Benington.
I got a lift over to my accommodation in Boston where I was put up in a 'disabled' room. I was tired and stiff and the extra grab rails around the loo and shower were very welcome.

I turned the bedroom light out at 10:47:52.

Sutton on Sea to Skegness
This morning I returned to Doulton Court to take a photograph of us all. Then I continued along the beach  and sea front where I was met by three intrepid members of staff from Aspen Lodge Care Home in Skegness. They had walked miles to find me and accompanied me all the way back to the home. I was greeted with banners, bunting, cake, tea and plenty of chats. The local paper sent down a photographer to take a picture of us all. I got to the hotel here I was booked in for the evening at 6.15 and was told I was too late for dinner/supper/tea. So I was recommended to a restaurant above an arcade where I spent the evening watching a succession of drunk people get arrested at another arcade/bar across the road from where I was eating. Very entertaining.

Saltfleet to Sutton on Sea
Generally today was sunny but cloud and rain arrived in the early evening. I walked out of Saltfleet along the A1031 and then followed the coast path through the salt marshes. Along the way I met Peter Roworth of Natural England who is the senior reserve manager for Saltfleet-by-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve. Try saying that with a mouthful! We chatted for a while and I interviewed him for my Characters on the Coastline series. As we spoke, a procession of fighter jets carried out their virtual bombing runs on a nearby range. From there the route took me along the beach and marsh-paths. I was amazed at the number of razor fish shells that were lying on the sand. 
I stopped for a sip of tea and saw an email asking if I could visit Doulton Court Care Home in Sutton on Sea. 
I could! So I checked into some local accommodation and had a lovely afternoon with the staff and residents at Doulton Court.

Cleethorpes to Saltfleet
After my lovely night courtesy of the Kingsway Hotel I set off in sunny weather along the shore and then slightly inland along lanes. I had a pub lunch before continuing onto Saltfleet where I stayed the night.

Goxhill to Cleethorpes
This morning I got a lift back to where I left off yesterday at Goxhill, from where I continued along mainly minor and major roads into Cleethorpes. I stayed the night at the lovely Kingsway Hotel who didn't charge me for my accommodation. Thank you so much.

Barton upon Humber to Goxhill
Today was a rest day and I took the opportunity to visit Beech House Care Home in Barton upon Humber. Then I decided to do a few more miles along the coast towards Grimsby to knock off my required quota allocated for tomorrow!  I got a couple of miles along the Humber coast before being asked/told to get off some 'private' farmland which forced me a little inland from my intended route alon. This is the first time this has happened (so far) on my entire walk. Welcome to Lincolnshire. Soon after I met Christian Nock who is walking round the coastline in the opposite direction to me raising money for Help For Heroes. We stopped and had a chat and compared notes, and I did a quick interview with him for my Characters on the Coastline series. I eventually made it to Goxhill where I had an early evening drink before getting a lift back to my accommodation in Barton upon Humber.

Hedon to Barton upon Humber
A shorter walk today compared to yesterday. From the hotel in Hedon I followed the coast via a cycle route along busy roads. Then I picked my way through derelict docklands. A lady came over for a chat and explained that she was homeless once. Whilst warning me to mind myself if I was to go through the centre of Hull (the route I was taking did not) she retrieved the little amount of money she had in her purse and, despite my gentle protestation, she insisted on putting it in my collecting tin. What a kind person. It was my collecting tin she was worried about, as she thought it might attract unwanted attention in the city centre from other 'homeless people' who might steal it for drugs and booze. As it happens, during my walk I have had many chats with people struggling to survive and living on the streets. Relatively speaking, these people have been some of the friendliest and most generous individuals I could ever wish to meet. When we had finished our conversation I realised that a police car had pulled over on the other side of the road and was keeping an eye on us! From there I followed a more defined path for a few miles passing through refurbished and developed former docks. Then along an overgrown path to near the Humber Bridge, which I crossed in an increasing wind into Barton upon Humber.

Spurn Head to Hedon
I followed the coast to a place 'Patrington Channel' where there was a crossing point marked on the map. But in fact there isn't because the sluice gate is security protected. So I retaced my steps a little way and made my way through fields of wheat, barley and yellow rape. Wonderful colours in the occasional sunshine but there were rain showers as well. Along overgrown paths next to the Humber Estuary past the carcass of a decayed 27 ft. sperm whale. Briefly and immediately downwind of it the smell was indescribably vile. Poor thing. I made it to the 'Kingstown Hotel' in Hedon who donated my dinner and breakfast. Thank you. 

Withernsea to Spurn Head
Summer solstice. Already? Blimey! I spent a lovely night at a B&B who donated a packed lunch. Thank you. On the way back down to the shore I passed an old nuclear bunker off a quiet lane. Then through a couple of fields on a bridleway past dormant wind turbines despite the stiff breeze. Then the rain started. Waterproofs on and the chaffing began. At Kilnsea I dumped my stuff at the Crown & Anchor before heading on down to Spurn Head, John Wayne style, in improving sunshine. I had a tea-break in a bird hide watching oyster catchers, a curlew, cormorant and gulls. Then onto the end of the point where there is a pilot and RNLI station before returning to the Crown & Anchor for a shower, dinner and Savlon. Aaaaah!