Day 8

We have finished our trans-pennine voyage in fine style with a visit to the Humber lifeboat station at Spurn Head.

Last nights late arrival left only enough time for a wholesome pub meal and a few drinks in the Humber Tavern before bed. Today's tides wouldn't allow us to start paddling from Paull until lunchtime which gave us plenty of time to explore the old lighthouse.

Our pleasingly eccentric host Jim Deighton is an artist who paints mostly seascapes in watercolour and oils. The lighthouse is a living art gallery with a maritime theme. Jim lives amongst all that he passionate about. His artwork adorns the walls, maritime trinkets prop up most corners and a huge black cat prowls the corridors. I'll have to finish paying tribute to Jim by mentioning the gargantuan breakfast he cooked for us. This first meal of the day was enormous yet readily devoured by the hungry paddlers.

Following a digestive rest we slowly began to ready ourselves for the 8th and final act in the Kayak Coast 2 Coast saga.

We started close to high tide, pushing the last of the flood stream finding helpful back eddies alongside the extensive mudflats. From time to time huge flocks of wading birds kept us entertained and eventually the ebb stream gave us a little more froward progress.

Leaving the sandbanks behind we took on the expanse of the Spurn Bight and for a while there was little or nothing to see. When the lighthouse came into view our approach happened quickly and we soon spotted the lifeboat crew and our loved ones waiting for us. Landing after 8 days on the hoof and blade was a great relief and to be welcomed by everyone ashore was a tremendous joy.

Photo credit: Jim Deighton

After plenty of cups of tea and hot showers the lifeboat coxswain, Dave Steenwoorden presented us with a signed memento in recognition of our journey and fundraising.

Photo credit: Jim Deighton

Afterwards there only remained the sad task of packing our kit away and going to our respective homes.

Wildlife of the final day is Britain's biggest wading bird, the Curlew.

Keep an eye on BBC Northwest Tonight on Monday, and there will further tales and thank you messages from the journey on this blog over the coming days and weeks.