Abergavenny Visit

On the way for a day out, a surprise new mural at Penarth's Station waiting area.

As per usual,  Aber's market had unusual decorations and was very busy.

After a lovely lunch there we strolled over to the Linda Vista Garden,

clearly suffering from the effects of the three heat waves this summer.

On the way home, a stop off at Cwmbran to visit the Llantarnam Grange,

passing this natural sculpture 

to see the Hidden Women Untold Stories exhibition by the artist, Prith B. Each painting related to a written account of the each ladies untold story. 

Strawberry Tea Party

 

Fun in the sun.

The Sun flower meets the Sun

With more to come.
 

Tow days later.

Down to the Italian Garden

 

To listen to the Vale of Glamorgan Brass Band.

Garden Peaks

 

The result of two heat waves.

Backpackering 11 - Day 10

 

Leeds equivalent of St. David's in Cardiff

with yet another SURPRISE. Had to buy, no question. 

Backpackering 11 - Day 9

 

The first surprise of Leeds

was its 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 Gallery 

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

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.

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.

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 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.