A brilliant night was had with some great people at Matter of Craft in Huntington Beach. It was great to see so many canny folk turn up to celebrate a tough run across the USA. It was all arranged at such short notice too.
The first photo below is at the start of the run across the USA in 2011. Underneath are almost the same people (1 daughter missing) 14 years later (tonight). I found that absolutely mind blowing. Thanks to Nick and his family for some great company.
Nick ran the first 4 miles back with me in 2011. He took one look at me and my weight and doubted that I'd ever make it out of California never mind Coney Island, New York 100 days later.
Thanks also to the manager of Matter of Craft (pictured below) for promising to donate 20% of our food order to St. Benedict's Hospice.
There were Geordie exiles and US NUFC supporters in attendance. That's Phil Nick, Anthony, Will and Wayne pictured below.
Annie (picture below) turned up with her husband Will having just completed a run "in my honour". It was nice not to be the one sweating buckets for once.
It was great to see Nick's wife Cathy again. They looked after me before the run across the USA in 2011. Last year they completed a family trans continental road trip across the USA in the same make RV that I've just been in. Nick said that he'd "do it again in a heartbeat". I think I'd rather take Chappy (my buggy) next time.
Now living in Huntington Beach, Anne and Norm (below) are from Sunderland originally. They are such lovely people. Sadly, Anne's brother Michael passed away in St. Benedict's Hospice a few years ago.
So as you can probably tell, a great night was had by all. It was obvious to me, if it wasn't already, that the run across the USA means a lot of things to a lot of people. To be shown such considerable kindness and generosity was the start of my recovery. I would call it the perfect antidote to a cruelly painful few months.
