It was a lovely sunny morning perfect conditions for a crossing. I headed down to the banks of the river and waited for high tide which was around midday. While i waited i turned my phone on to check my messages and see what was happening in the world of Facebook. As soon as i did i received a call from the coastguard. They'd been contacted about my attempt and were calling to check my location and to ensure i was aware of tides and currents. After a short chat they were satisfied i knew what i was doing and fully capable of making it across the river.
Midday soon came and with hoolley and myself ready we pushed off from the banks and set off. The tide was still coming in which I'd allowed for and was relying on to assist my crossing. Ferry gliding into the flow i made good progress on the calm water towards the fork of the river. Where the bed shallowed out i found myself scraping the sand with my paddles. It wasn't as deep as I'd hoped so i dug my blade into the sand and essentially poled my self across to the river douglas where i was able to continue my crossing unhindered to the banks on the far side.
Dragging hoolley out onto the grassy banks i was happy with the attempt and gave the coastguard a quick call to let them know all was well and i was safe. The landscape I'd now be hiking across was very reminiscent of the salt marshes I'd hiked at the beginning of the trek. It was almost like i was doing it all again in reverse as i made my way back down the country. Getting a signal on my phone i was surprised to receive a call from lee, my friend from Bournemouth, he was heading up to see me. It had been over a year since he joined me for a rather long hike and for him a rather long hikr back to the car.
The going was easy and the weather was lovely. Passing a farm i noticed a man approaching the fence, he was trying to gain my attention. Alec had heard my interview on bbc radio Lancashire and was surprised to see someone with an enormous pack hiking passed his farm. Putting two and two together he'd worked out that i was indeed the adventurer he'd heard. Alec was a fascinating fella and had , in his younger years, cycled from lands end to john o groats on a penny farthing. He loved his old bikes and after I'd been treated to a bowl of soup and a coffee was shown his unique collection of bicycles. He had some amazing examples all in pristine condition. A couple of penny farthings, some traditional push bikes as well as a couple of very unique designs. Being offered the chance to ride one of his prize 1885 penny farthings i simply couldn't refuse. It was a little nerve racking to say the least. Just getting on was a challenge in its own write but staying on whilst sitting 6' above the concrete was, well something else!
It didn't take me long to reach Southport Where i was to meet tony a crew member of the local independent rescue services. I was shown round their b class rib and chatted about the types of specialist equipment they used while rescuing people from the sands which were notoriously soft.
That evening lee arrived so we went for pizza before taking a drive around the area looking for somewhere to wild camp. Lee had brought his pop up tent, I'm still not convinced they're particularly good for expeditions but it suited him well whilst glamping.
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