More photos from John Petch of the Wooler section

Thanks John.....Enjoy

Day 12 Mitford to Ovington Mission Accomplished

Broadsword calling Danny Boy......... Broadsword calling Danny Boy.........Mission accomplished!!!!

The Northumbria Border Trek has been completed on schedule.

Well what a fantastic final day!

The team set off from Mitford around 8.15 picking up various people on the way and by the time they got to the Ponteland area there must have been around 25 people walking. The rain held off until early afternoon then absolutely soaked us all, never the less this didn't dampen spirits one jot. The lunchtime rest halt was at Jane's house in the Crescent where some lovely soup amongst other things were being handed out. More photos taken then onwards for the final push to Ovington. At one stage I found myself near the front following Pauline and she had such a head of steam on I thought we were about to start Jogging :-) Although it was quite wet and miserable at times the walk seemed to pass really quickly and in no time at all we were walking through the Whittle Dene up along the lonnen and into a great welcoming party for the Maidwell. Keith from Winships did a fantastic job with a drop of champers and free drinks for the walkers well done Keith. I don't know about anyone else but as Andy was going around shaking hands and kissing the girls I felt quite overwhelmed and emotional. I think the enormity of what the big man had achieved was just starting to sink in. I will be the the first to hold my hand up and say I thought he might have bitten of more than he could chew. I was wrong! The man has an inner strength of massive proportions to complete twelve days of long distance walking. Well done mate!

The day wasn't finished yet! We all gathered back at Winships for a celebration evening of fabulous food and fine wine. Many of the hardened walkers turned up very smartly dressed and everyone looked so fit glowing and well. The conversation and company was just the best and one of the best nights out I've personally had for a very long time.

Just before 23.00 Andy took to the floor and gave an account of the Trek which was both hilarious and moving, followed by his dad saying a few words in response.....Just brilliant!

The total on the just giving website is not far short of £10,000 for the NSPCC and I'm sure I heard a mention of an overall figure of £20,000 being raised? What an effort by all involved.

I think It just remains for me to say once again very very well done Andy a brilliant effort we are all so proud of you..........What next?

Click on this link and turn up your speakers for our piesta resistance http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jw.wallis/AndySNorthumbriaTrek#5396535191030448386

Click on the link below and click slide show to see some photos supplied by Margaret Maidwell of the Saturday night at Winships.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jw.wallis/blog#

Over and out from your Blog Master John Wallis x

Alnmouth to Mitford south of Morpeth

Mitford calling Mitford calling.....The boys are at their final stop on this massive walk around Northumberland. Today Andy reports a great walk south bound along the coastline via Duridge Bay where the R.A.F gave their blessing to the walk by a low level fly past from a 600 knot Tornado which sent Ben? the spaniel running into the sea after it :-) Spaniels I rest my case! The team left the coast and headed inland down past Morpeth and finally around 18.00 tonight arrived at Mitford. Here we are the penultimate day and Andy is still refusing to say he's nailed the walk just in case something goes wrong tomorrow...It won't.

The team are setting off on the last 21 miles tomorrow morning at 8.15 from Mitford and hope to have a lunch stop in Darras Hall between 12.00 and 13.00. The rendezvous will be the junction of Western Way and the Crescent. If you can make it and join Andy for the final section I'm sure that would make his day and compliment this incredible achievement.

Day 10 Seahouses to Alnmouth

Andy reports a most excellent day today with great scenery and excellent waves. The team walked down through some classic Northumbrian coastline today and if Carlsberg did coastlines it would have to be Northumberland. They walked through Beadnell, Newton, Embleton, Dunstanburgh, Craster, and finally into the Red Lion at Alnmouth around 17.30. Andy reports they managed to do 3 crosswords en route today :-) One of Andy's colleagues Cliff Thornton also joined them along the route. Tomorrow is the penultimate day and they hope to make it to Mitford south of Morpeth ready for the big push back to Ovington.

What a truly remarkable effort this had been.

Day 9 Holy Island to Seahouses

Had the report from Andy tonight and he has made it to Seahouses....A very wet Seahouses. He reports a long hard walk today along the coast with fellow walkers Simon, Tony, Ian and Mike. Although it was very wet and miserable the views of the waves crashing and the smell of the sea air made it a complete contrast to the previous part of the walk. The team arrived in Waren Mill where they also had lunch and a bit of respite from the elements. After lunch they rounded Budle Bay and continued into the headwind all the way to Seahouses. Well done guys unfortunately the forecast doesn't look any better for tomorrow.

Thanks to Simon Harper for the photos

Day 8 Wooler to Holy Island

The report today is that the walk from Wooler to Holy Island was a pleasant experience with a great crowd of 15 walkers. The trek today took in part of the St Cuthbert's Way then the team had lunch at St Cuthbert's Cave. This was followed by a bit of erratic map reading but was soon sorted possibly by divine intervention :-) They then risked life and limb crossing the A1 followed by the crossing of the East Coast Main Line. They got to the Holy Island causeway for 14:20 having to run the last 400 yards to catch their lift and then arriving at Holy Island at 15:00. Andy reports that it's good to finish the high level hill section and he's looking forward to walking down his favorite bit of coastline in the UK (Well it really is a bit special isn't it)Tomorrow he will be heading south towards Seahouses and home.

Photos to follow when folk get home and sorted but here's a couple from Jennifer Bernhart from an earlier section to keep you going.

Photos to jw.wallis@gmail.com

Day 7 Chew Green to Wooler

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!

Sorry but I'm getting really excited now this is looking really good.

The day started at 7.00am from Chew Green the biggest and most strenuous section of the walk. Fellow walkers for this important leg were Peter Bernhart, Alan Rodham, Nigel Davison, and Graeme Bunn (I hope I've got the names correct) They all started off in the dark with mist down to the ground making their way along the border ridge passing such famous places as Lamb Hill, Beefstand Hill, Mozzie Law, Russell's Cairn on Windy Gyle and finally Cheviot all in very poor visibility and very very cold and windy...A Man's section!

Anyone who was out walking yesterday may have seen a Dutch plated land rover type vehicle with what looked like a pair of mercenaries in it. Our car passed them as it went dark on our way off the military ranges wondering what they were up to. Well Andy and the guys came across them camped up on the Pennine Way today, goodness knows what they were up to?

I digress! The guys descended down Cheviot and onwards toward Wooler and the Tankerville Arms for food refreshments hot bath and bed. Andy reported tonight that the leg took 11 hours in pretty grim weather conditions. What a bloody brilliant effort by all involved! I know this was a big psychological section for Maidwell but he's cracked it and now it almost seems like a leisurely walk to Holy Island. Bloody well done lads!

I'm told photos to follow

JW