And so it begins (Eastbourne to Rodmell) - In the name of Thiago - Day 259

 

Forgive me folks but this is going to be a short one. I've been completely overwhelmed by everything that's happened today. It really has been quite a day.

I think there were 18 of us in the end making those first tentative steps from the Vic in Latimer Road, Eastbourne this morning. 

I should say a huge thank you to Gary - the landlord at The Vic. He sorted us all out for brews and a bacon bap before we left and insisted that the money I tried to give him to cover his costs for opening up at 10am all went into the fundraiser. 


This snap was from early on in the piece just as we'd done the horrible climb up from St Bede's which apparently is just called Bedes now. 

You know what folks, Im sorry but I'm just emotionally unable to compute all of what's happened today and let's face it, this was never going to be one of my greatest blogs.

I started with a live interview on BBC Radio Sussex this morning at 8am, then dropped off a collection bucket at my mate Steve's place - he'd arranged a collection at the Langney Wanderers home game with Eastbourne United today.


Now here's quite something. As well as seeing my old school friend Jenny Eldridge (now Jenny Griffiths) at St Bedes and walking and talking with her for a few fleeting moments, I also bumped into these two old school friends Chris Turp and James Martin as well, of course, as everyone else that shared this remarkable day with me, who I've not got pictures of. I was on bucket and contactless payment collection duties today!

Before we took a slightly wrong turn just after we'd passed through Southease railway station this was due to be the last mile and half of today's glorious effort. I love this photo as it just catches the last remnants of the day's walk, a few stragglers and maybe a little bit of tiredness creeping in. It's been that kind of day.

I know I won't be able to thank everyone - it's just impossible. But let me say to all those people we met on the way and who donated thank you, to everyone who stopped to ask what we were doing, thank you, to everyone who made this one of the most wonderful days I've experienced this year, thank you.  

I'm not sure why I'm unable to link this in text in the normal fashion but technically if you click through that and as long as you have a BBC account you'll be able to see 40 seconds of me on this evening's Midlands Today by using the link below. If that's not working, simply search Midlands Today on the iPlayer. I have nothing left to give. But I know some of you lot do and this is the place to do just that!






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