14th August 2012 High Cliffe Farm to Seaton Carew 14 miles

Woke without alarm at 6.15. Felt I e
Very tired, lay there dozing until seven 6.35 and got water on. I practised packing inside the tent as may need to if it rains. Felt organised for a change. The Rombouts disposible beaker was great for tea accompanied with porridge oats. 
I got packed up and after leaving a thankyou in the tractor I left about 7.30.
I took the Teeside Way into Guisborough and winded my way to the town centre via suburbia and the back of Sainsburys. Lime trees in the High st had dropped numerous coffees seeds. I needed meths so while waiting for 9 ti arrive I had a coffee in Neros where I sat in the window as if on display. There was as slight drizzle.  I gathered my supplies including a mug and small penknife ,which I have just not here! I had been struggling to cut things with nail clippers or flint-- ugg ugg! I realised if anything by going via Guisborough I had come abit far east but it was to late now.
I walked out of town on the Wiltin Road but stopped at on numerous occasions due to to very sore feet ,especially my right sole. It was squiggy, a large blister holding its fluid. It eas not sore just awkward so by checking it to prevent it getting worse. I had burst but was venting a gunge up via my big and index toe and stank. I poured surgical spirit just a a woman drove past, reversed and asked if I was ok. I was sat on my pack in a country lanewith with my boots and socks off. Through gritted teeth as the surgical spirit bit I said I was fine. God that stung. It is hard to explain how painful it is, 8 out of ten maybe. I put on a new plaster and new socks having opened the blister to drain a little more with the newly aquired pen knife.
I hobbled into the pretty village of Wilton then soon onto the contrasting A174 following it west via cycle lane. At the A66 I waded through knee height grass verge before dropping off onto a field of barley and a path running behind a housing estate to Grangeton. I stopped at a Heron stores to get fluids, giving my surplus. to a lad of about 12 who wanted to know how much my paxk cost.
I Shadowed the A66 before crossing to the Teeside Way, with elaborate signposts with bronzed boots a hanging. I stopped on a park edge,inbetween housing estate and the buzz of traffic to air my feet. The cycle route took me via old mattress and fly tipped contents spilt black bags. It was slow going physically and mentally, and hot!
The Teeside way took me past industrial grinding of metal, heavy machinary groaning and the smells of sewage.
Eventually Middlesbrough football stadium appeared and trendy new build of the college. I could see the transport bridge looming above old industrial brick walls,  site of a salt works long gone.
The lift across the Tees was strange, like a container lift but converted to carry cars and foot in the 80s. A chap I spoke to said his mates used to climb it to cross the river in the 80s. It now costs 60p for the experience.

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On the other side I had a miserable and hot time walking the very busy A174 with a break watching birds at the Saltholme RSPB reserve. Apparently there was a red breasted Pochard , but I could not see it so plodded on. The terrain was really flat and signs of petro chemical,elec power station plus other industry was abound inbetween nature reserves existed. I took photos of common/harbour seals on a sea tributary an unexpected pleasure. At 6.30 I made it to Seaton Carew a conibation of Hartlepool, started to walk through but back tracked along the beach to the dunes just south on the edge of a golf course. I lay on the sand in the evening sun, boots off. As the beach emptied of dog walkers I got out the rest of my kit.It was such a warm evening that I chanced not pitching the tent. With a cup of tea in me I walked to the sea to cool my feet. It felt good but as I removed the compeed plasters I did not like what I saw. Visions of having to stop due to my feet became a possibility, and now I had sand in them. Monique is thinking of meeting me on the Hadrians Wall,at this rate I may not get there. I had done a painful 15 miles today,227 total. I lay in my sleeping bag gazing at Polaris the north star,Casiopia and the Great Bear,warm cosy and for the first time that day content.