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| Whitby Abbey, from the car park near the Co-op |
Today's trip was carefully planned. I found a suitable car park, and put it into Google Maps. When we got close to the car park, we were met with a 'No Entry' sign, and a sharp right turn. So an alternate car park was found. This is the more normal approach for me, I don't usually target a particular parking place.
We pay the fee, and walk into town. Straight away there is a man selling a jokes magazine, we buy one, politely listening to his jokes. Then a little further on we are accosted by the man at the Dog's Trust stand. I'm not sure that he believed that we were already supporters, but I already know most of what he says, even if I can't remember the name of my current sponsored dog. They change so frequently, as we are always sponsoring a dog that cannot be rehomed, and is usually old and sick.
 | | "The Black Pearl" |
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Then, just along the quayside, a boat called the "Black Pearl" is moored. We take a ride on the boat, a little up river, but we can't go far because the tide is low, and a ford was made across the river in ancient times that has raised the river bed too much. So, we go seaward, but the boat is not suitable for sea journeys. It's choppy out at sea. The breakers are running along the inside of the harbour wall.
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 | | HMS Bark Endeavour, Cook's first ship |
| Next we visit the Cook Museum. It doesn't look much from the outside, but the displays are interesting and tell the story well. It is definitely worth the visit. | |
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| Jo enjoying Cod and Chips at the Angel |
After our visit, we walk back across the bridge to find a fish and chip shop for lunch. We received a recommendation from the Jokes magazine seller, but can't remember what he said. The Angel looks good, and we are expecting every fish and chip shop to be good here. This time we were not disappointed. It was very good.
No longer able to complete long walks, we go to the other end of the harbour and board the tour bus to take us up to the Abbey. Outside, there is just a single caravan that houses the booking office, with just two people serving. We have to wait ages, then we have to wait again, because there is only one terminal working for payments. Do better, English Heritage.
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The Abbey, above the town,
taken from the tour bus | |
There's something being planned in the Abbey, normal paths are blocked off, and other wide pathways laid out. It doesn't really affect our time at this awesome ruin. We can hardly imagine what it must have been like in its day, not only does its presence dominate views from the town, but up on the hill there is an important community.
With just a few mins left, we visit the nearby church, where no photos are allowed. Inside are the original (?) box pews, arranged so that families can sit in them facing each other. There is a three tiered pulpit away from the altar, and we are reminded of the chapel at the Chelsea Hospital we visited only a week or so ago.
We bought ice cream at the ice cream van, then caught the last tour bus back to the car park near the Co-op, where we had left the car, but there was still time in the day, so we drove to Robin Hood's bay. Parkin at the top we followed the path down hill, sometimes a steep slope, sometimes steps. At the bottom we had just a few minutes left to buy tea and cake as the sun went down. On the long walk back up, we bought cheese at the general store.
We drove home in the dusk, and shortly after arriving went outside to see the Milky Way. Sadly, there was a little cloud and quite a lot of light from the surrounding buildings, so although it was better than home, it wasn't that good. We couldn't even find the plough clearly.
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