Day 8 of Andy and Josh’s Coast to Coast challenge saw the lads make their way from Keld to Reeth, clocking up 13 miles along the way. The plan was for a nice straightforward 11-mile day, but a field occupied by some rather large and intimidating bulls quickly persuaded them that an extra 2-mile detour was a sensible investment. Neither fancied testing their sprinting abilities on tired legs, so the scenic route it was.

The weather also decided to make an appearance, with a few spells of rain throughout the day. Thankfully, after the soaking they’ve endured over the past week, today’s rain barely registered. At this point, anything short of a monsoon is considered decent walking weather, and the lads pressed on without too much complaint.

While the miles continue to add up, this challenge is about far more than reaching the finish line. Andy and Josh are taking on the Coast to Coast walk to raise money for EyUp! and help raise awareness of men’s mental health. Every step is helping to start conversations, encourage people to speak up, and support an important cause that affects so many people.

Josh enjoyed a welcome visit from his family today, with Lou and the kids arriving to provide a much-needed morale boost. The whole tribe turned up to cheer him on, although there are rumours the kids mainly came to check that Dad was still alive and hadn’t been swallowed by a muddy hillside somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales.

Meanwhile, Andy enjoyed a bit of rare peace and quiet, taking the chance to catch up with Kirsty on FaceTime. After spending a week sharing every waking moment with Josh, the opportunity to speak to someone else was probably appreciated more than he’ll admit.

With another day in the bag, the lads settled down for the evening to recharge both themselves and their ever-important electronics. The phones, power banks and watches are all back on charge, while the legs continue their ongoing negotiations about whether they’re willing to do this all again tomorrow. Fortunately, the route has already been planned and the boots are ready, so Day 9 awaits.

8 days down. 7 to go!