Backpackering 11 - Day 7

 

Greeted by a kangaroo 

to Whitby's Captain Cook Museum housed in John Walker's home, who had taken Cook on in his late teens as an apprentice seaman.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

This visit sort of closed  the loop, having visited Botany Bay in Australia and crossed the Cook Straits which separate North and South New Zealand a few years back.

After a scampi lunch for me and kippers for Gek, we strolled on to photograph the harbour entrance

but chicken out of climbing the 91 steps up to cliff top abbey.

Backpackering 11 - Day 6

Strolling back from Sainsbury's,

for a posh nosh in our posh abode.

Afternoon 'tea' at the Clock Cafe

giving us energy for a coastal path walk.

The strange effect of light on the waves caused by the wind.

A pose with an unusually chaotic rock formation

before featuring a man fishing in a scenic cliffscape. 

 Resting before homing it.

Backpackering 11 - Day 5

 

The Grand Hotel, built in 1867, was the biggest hotel and the biggest brick structure in Europe at the time. 

Walking by the 1827 Cliff Bridge and around South Bay

we eventually reached what remains of Scarborough's  12th century  castle's Great Tower,

smashed to bits in the 1645 Civil War siege. 

The Tower is at the entrance to this cliff top area which really didn't need extensive walls to protect it, with just the south bay side being given battlements. Archeology evidence has shown it being used 3,000 years ago as a secure area.

Walking on, we were greeted by these two defenders 

who did allow us entry to view the North Bay from the Tower. Thank you guys. 

Backpackering 11 - Day 4

 

Scarborough. 

Settled into our rather posh accommodation 

we set off along the Esplanade to find the Italian Garden, opened in 1914,

 just a little bigger than Penarth's.

Walking south along the cliff path 

returning by the cliff top

passing through the clock tower built in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V.

The effects of the heatwave still being felt.

Backpackering 11- Day 3

A morning amble through the Shambles, passing between 500 year old houses

followed by an attempt to walk the 2,000 year old wall. But the day was far too hot in the heatwave to walk in the sun. How often could you write that in the uk, never mind York?

Waiting  by the sparkling waters,

for a later afternoon cruise from Lendal Bridge, 

first down the Ouse through nature

before the turn about 

through

York's buildings when it was a port.

About turn again for Lendal bridge to disembark.

Backpackering 11- Day 2

 

A must do visit to the Railway Museum, first to the Station Hall to take stroll down the platform

leaving Gek 

waiting for my return with a cup of something,

passing on the way, the couple from Chariots of Fire at their meeting after his return from the games in Paris. York station was used as the filming location for this scene. 

Right, now over to the Great Hall 

for to see the history of the steam locomotive. 

A pose just to give an idea of their size.

The special one we came to see, Mallard, the LNER Class 4 loco. She holds the world speed  record for a steam loco, reaching 126 mph in 1938. She was our favourite to 'spot' on our trips to Doncaster, back when........

Today, 200 mph, many times a day.

Now, here is an interesting find. In the 1950s, this overhead electric loco replaced steam ones, running between Manchester and Sheffield. Me and my mates used that service back then. Why has it taken so long for overhead wiring to be the norm?

Next, a visit with a different look at the past, York Art Gallery. 

The view towards the Minster across a City Gate.

The special exhibition on, was of Japanese Block Printing.

The famous Great Wave. Look closely and you see in the background Mount Fuji and closer, a cluster of boats about to be drenched. 

Wood block printing involves carving a template for each colour in the picture, and adding them one after the other. Amazing. 

The ones on show were mainly from the 18th and 19th century. The subject of the images  is interesting too.

The elite guard of female samurai, shown here, were responsible for protecting the women who occupied the inner palace of a castle. 1896