From Lincolnshire we headed up to the North Yorkshire coast to experience some bracing pre-Christmas weather. We had expected it to take ages as the papers were predicting mayhem as everyone finished work and headed off.
As it happened we made very good progress and were installed at Middlewood Farm in Robin Hoods Bay by 2pm. The site had views towards the sea and certainly got a good breeze. Very pretty. Good enough site, with heated wash-blocks and a kids play area. Marked walk down to the beach through the fields. My only gripe about this place (and Orchard Park for that matter) is their habit of playing very loud local radio in the wash blocks. Not quite sure what the reasoning is here - is it that people cannot cope with silence or maybe people don't like to listen to each other's bodily functions. I myself would rather have the occasional interruption of the latter and then have the peace of the former so that I can read the paper whilst I get away from the pressure cooker atmosphere of The Van!
We went down to Robin Hood's Bay beach on the first afternoon and it was cold. No birds of any note on the sea which was a surprise. I have been keeping track of what is around and may even write the whole list up here at some point. Was hoping for a gannet out at sea, or a kittiwake or maybe a chough on the cliffs. Saw a possible raven fly over but the only sea birds were black headed gulls.
We retreated to a pub right on the edge of the sea and it was hot chocolates all round (plus a pint of Theakston's Best Bitter for me mmmmmm!!)
On the next day whatever that was ... Wednesday? no Thursday ... no it was Saturday because everyone was out Xmas shopping and we headed for Whitby. Last time I went there was for a summer holiday as an 8 year old kid. I remember fishing for crabs off the pier and walking to Robin Hood's Bay along the cliff top in the fog as the horn boomed out every few minutes.
We had a look round the town and went for another hot chocolate at a quaint little cafe called Sherlocks. We established that the Captain Cook museum was closed for the winter which was a bit of a shame. It would have been appropriate to have visited the museum of one of the first NZ emigrants. Instead we went up to the abbey and had lunch in their car park. That is one of the advantages of the van; you can stop in any carpark or roadside layby and get a brew on, have a little nap and chill out before going off again.
Eric, Stuart and I elected to walk down to the pier for a fish. It was very picturesque and also quite cold. Saw a couple of male eider ducks close up which was a bonus. Eric did not catch any crabs but we all enjoyed the walk.
Writing this from the warmth of the family seat in Lumb on Christmas eve. Updates on Christmas to follow. Seasonal greetings to all the readers of this blog. Have a peaceful day tomorrow.
