Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Backpackering 11 - Day 9

 

The first surprise of Leeds


was it's ornate arcades.


Second, the massive pedestrian area covering the city's centre 


Third, this massive 


Victorian market 


the origin Marks and Spencer in 1884, when everything cost a penny 


Had to include this photo.


Fourth,  the city's Art Museum 


with its orate tea room housed in the original sculpture space.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Backpackering 11 - Day 8


Down for a stroll around South Bay


passing The Spa where the water was discovered in the 17th century, this building being completed in 1836 after earlier ones damaged by cliff falls. 


Tide out time


for donkey rides


and a deckchair sit.


So, after 6pm? 


Sea Oak creation by Paul Morriston 


returning for a lunch at The Clock Cafe where we started.


Spending the afternoon in the 60's.


followed by an early evening walk up 500 feet 


to visit Oliver's Mount and the war  memorial obelisk for WW I, II and the Korean Peninsula War.

Monday, June 29, 2026

Backpackering 11 - Day 7

 

Greeted by a kangaroo 


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



And the rest, as they say, is history.

Endeavour - 1769

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 199 steps up to cliff top abbey.

Sunday, June 28, 2026

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.

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Backpackering 11 - Day 5

 

The Grand Hotel, built in 1867 in a V shape to honour Queen Victoria, 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. 

Friday, June 26, 2026

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.



Thursday, June 25, 2026

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.