In Conclusion

My knees held out, much to my relief. They would start the day somewhat stiff and sore but then ease up as I got moving. I think keeping an easy pace with plenty of rests definitely helped. The final day was the worst, bad weather reducing the motivation to pause, and it also became the longest in terms of distance. 

As a route, the Cleveland Way has a great contrast between the high moorland and rugged coastal scenery. The paths, on the whole, were excellent. Sections between Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay were very muddy  - a very gooey and very sticky mud. Some of the moorland tracks were a bit dull, more suited for cycling than walking, but most moorland sections were quite outstanding 

I think on balance I preferred the coast. With the sea there is always movement, and there is constant contrast between the land and the sea

It should also be noted that a lot of the moorland is quite remote and lacking in places to eat, drink, and be merry. So plan carefully. Obtaining water was a challenge on the moors, with very few streams without dropping down to lower ground, and few dwellings at which to ask. Luckily for me the weather was cool to cold, and my water requirements light

I think six days is about the right timescale. I took five and a half days and felt the last day was too long. I met others doing it in five, half their party abandoned the walk and the others found it challenging. One person was attempting it in four, and was dead on his feet after three. I had expected all of these people to overtake me on the last section, so I don't know how their journeys fared 

I did ponder what my dad would have made of the route. Lacking wildness and challenge, I suspect, with every junction clearly signposted and a clear path throughout. But back in the 1970s, the likely era for his journey, the path would not have had anything like this level of engineering applied to it

I think one thing my father has given me is a lovely of the outdoors, and a desire for pushing your boundaries. When you're happy to take your son across a live tank firing range, then other obstacles pale into insignificance. 

Quite how this process of osmosis works I'm not sure. My memories of walking with him are of him walking far ahead of me, a speck in the distance, and me, an even smaller speck lagging far behind

But worked it has, and for that I'm very grateful 

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