Tag Archives: dave

Afoot in Yorkshire

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Sir NIgel Gresley pulling out of Goathland
Sir Nigel Gresley pulling out of Goathland

Arrived home mid-evening yesterday after quite a tiring journey back from Scarborough, calling at Coventry to see Andrew and take him to the Harvester at Allesley for lunch. Said Harvester turned out to be bursting at the seams, even at 3.30pm; a large number of the bursters were children, so noise levels were high. Nevertheless we persevered and waited 20 minutes for a table, then rather more for the food, which can best be described as ordinary. Only the waitress was outstanding.

The road between the M18 and Scarborough (A614) was a trial both ways, despite its basic attractiveness. Slow-moving vehicles were all over it like a rash, and no-one seemed to remember how to overtake. As a result we found ourselves at the back of queues, behind caravettes, caravans, tractors and dreary drivers generally. Coming home I tried a different route, which was initially successful, but we then got diverted into Hull after missing a turning. Found ourselves passing the Hull Daily Mail building. Nostalgic, or what?

While at Scarborough we had a pleasant time in reasonably warm weather. The first day (Thursday) was in fact quite hot down on Scarborough seafront, where we had tea in one cafe and lunch in another before Dot and Julia headed to the shops and Dave and I went on a tour of the harbour, followed by a walk around and then over the headland. Bus back: total walking between four and five miles.

On Friday we took a bus to Whitby, where it was a bit duller and a bit cooler, but still pleasant enough. After an interesting journey via Robin Hood’s Bay we had a magnificent fish and chips lunch at Trencher’s – an impressive restaurant – then walked through the town, taking in numerous delightful little shops (I quote) before emerging on to the harbour wall, where it was a bit colder but fascinating. Again, between four and five miles. The double-decker journey back was even more interesting, as we got front seats up top.

The major walk came on Saturday, another sunny day. We started near Goathland and walked down to Mallyan Spout, a waterfall spilling into a quiet valley. Then we walked to Beck Hole, where we had a pub lunch (cheese sandwich and cider) before walking along the old railway line to Grosmont. Here we looked round a gallery before wondering whether to take the early or late steam train back to Goathland.

On hearing that the early train was to be drawn by Sir Nigel Gresley, a Mallard-type engine with a top speed of 112mph, a quick decision was made by Julia and Dave to jump on it, and we were fortunate that the only seats were first class. This should have attracted a surplus fare, but as the train was full, it didn’t. So we had comfort as well as privilege. We didn’t quite make 112mph on the three-mile trip, but we were certainly into double figures.

On arriving at Goathland we rushed out to snap Sir Nigel, but the fact that the platform was too short for the train threatened to thwart us. Happily its departure was delayed long enough for us to get out of the station and on to the hill outside, where we got a great view. Some nice photographs, and Dot and I both got a good video when it did eventually pull out. I also got a video of some rally cars that happened to be passing.

From the station we had a walk of about a mile back to the car, which gave us a total of just over nine miles for the day according to my app: however 2½ of these were on the train. Dave’s pedometer showed longer walking, but as it measures steps, it tends not to be too accurate when there’s a lot of up and down.

In the evening we walked down the road to Tuscany Too and had an excellent meal – mine featuring an outstanding rack of lamb. Lovely restaurant. Happily we were able to catch a bus back.

A walk in the park

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Dave negotiates passage through a soggy cornfield on the way back from Baconsthorpe

Back from a weekend in Blakeney with the Evetts and the Towns, which left me shattered and cotton-wool-headed. Nevertheless it was a lovely weekend: it was just that for some reason I couldn’t sleep on the Sunday evening. On the plus side, the infection near the root of my tooth seems to be on its way out, which is as well, as I have just finished the antibiotics. Dot is already out taking a head teacher to lunch, and I’m catching up with various things before we both head out to another hotel – the King’s Head at Great Bircham. She is doing an inspection at the school there tomorrow.

The Manor Hotel at Blakeney was as good as ever, if you discount the handle of our room coming off when I tried to pull it shut. It turned out that the handyman had forgotten to put the screws back in after doing some repair work, but he quickly appeared and put it right. The food was good as usual, and the breakfasts exceptional: so much so that I have put back on the pounds I have been carefully losing. Unfairly, Dot has remained the same weight. How can that be right?

We arrived on Friday and had our usual afternoon tea at The Blakeney Hotel, though unfortunately not in the splendid upstairs lounge, which was full. On the Saturday, which was warm though a little breezy, we started with a rather prolonged visit to the village fete, during which all the women bought some jewellery. After a cup of tea we proceeded with the Evetts to the rather posh and lovely Bell at Wiveton, where we had starters only before hastening to Bodham for our walk to Baconsthorpe Castle. We did the full journey (about six miles), including a survey of the ruins and the loop through Baconsthorpe village.

On the way back to Bodham there was a brief shower, which had little effect on us till we reached a narrow path through a cornfield, when our trousers felt the full effect of water lingering on the wheat. Still, they had dried out by the time we got out to the car.

On the Sunday we started by driving to West Lodge, a house on the coast road at the bottom of Sheringham Park which was rented by the woman who sold us the jewellery at the fete (Liz Holman). Overnight she had been making a necklace for Julia and had asked us to pick it up there. Lovely job – and there was a bonus. We could leave the car at her house while we walked up into the park – which we did, and had a really enjoyable walk, taking in the Gazebo, which included a stunning view and four dogs (plus all of us and the owners).

No rain, but it was a bit cooler. Not too cool for a Twister (etc) from the rather cute Munch Buggy, manned by a woman very much like our friend Bridget. There is a beautiful new wildflower garden (The Bower) near the top, and we also called in at the visitors’ centre cafe for a drink. Some people had food, but I didn’t. Obviously that was a waste of care. We walked back to the car a different way and encountered the jewellery-maker’s husband in the garden. Had a chat and then drove to Holt station, where there was a display of classic cars and some very dark clouds, which however failed to deposit rain.

Spent some time looking at the cars and trying unsuccessfully to work out the categories. We also had a look at a steam train and took some photographs of that, plus a movie. Afterwards we went into Holt town centre and had tea and cake at Byfords. It was suspiciously quiet.

After another good meal at the hotel and a woeful failure to sleep on my part, we took leave of the Towns and strolled round Blakeney in spitting rain until we met the Evetts and had lunch with them at Wiveton Fruit Farm. This consisted for me of a rather chunky coronation chicken sandwich and  ginger beer. After driving them back to the hotel to pick up their car, we set off for home.