Week 5 22nd- 28th June

Wind NE 2-3 Mostly sunny

We left Grimsby at 7am. We did not get much help from the wind as it was on our nose and we mostly motored for the entire 12 hour journey. Fortunately the seas were very calm so we just relaxed in the sun. There were lots of seabirds, razor bills, guillemots and puffins, near Flamborough head.
The times for coming in and out of Scarborough are plus or minus 2 hours around high tide. Initially the harbour master wasn’t certain that he had a space. We were tied onto a ladder on the harbour wall while he took Richard to check for spaces. We had hoped to arrive by 6pm but it was 7:30 before we were tied up in the marina. Fortunately we had eaten during the journey, so once we were settled in the marina we had a quick walk along Scarborough seafront.

We had arranged to meet Richard’s cousin Rachel and her two children Sadie and Ethan.

After they had explored the boat we walked up the hill to Scarborough castle.

After that we were ready for a lunch with fish and chips followed by ice cream.

We said our goodbyes after a lovely day. We walked a little further along the coast to North Bay.

Visually the coastline, buildings, harbour and beaches of Scarborough could compete with any along the south coast. There are good transport links and it is not too cut off from major towns and cities (some quite affluent). But the seafront is an endless line of empty amusement arcades and fun-fair rides with every restaurant claiming to be the best fish and chip shop.

Early evening walk, tacky seafront beside lovely South Bay beach

Saturday and Whitby

Winds SW 0-4 variable Sunny

We left Scarborough about 8am (plus or minus 2hours around high tide) hoping to arrive in time for the bridge opening in Whitby. We checked prior to leaving with the harbour master at Whitby and he said we had until 10:50. We arrived at 10:30 just as the bridge was closing. He said (rather bluntly) that it would not reopen until 18:00.

Fortunately we were able to moor at the holding pontoon. Apart from the very high ladder to reach the quay this worked fairly well and enabled us to explore Whitby.

It was a very warm and sunny Saturday in a bustling Whitby. A characterful place, with a combination of historic architecture and superb landscape. We initially wandered around the thronging streets on the right side of the harbour. There was a greater choice of eateries and more interesting shops compared to Scarborough.

We then crossed the aforementioned bridge to wander the cobbled narrow streets. We climbed the 199 steps (I counted 201?) to St Marys Church and Whitby Abbey.

Inside the church there is a notice saying “Please do not ask staff where Dracula’s grave is as there isn’t one”. Sue has just finished rereading the Bram Stoker novel. Dracula meets his end in Transylvania, stake through the heart and turns to dust, so no grave.

A passage in the book reads “Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the abbey coming into view, and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut moved along, the church and churchyard became gradually visible………………….but it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell”. Eeeeeeeek!

There is a good article about Bram Stokers inspiration for Dracula on the English Heritage website link here https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey/history-and-stories/dracula/

it was a really hot day, so we walked back to the other side of the harbour and the beach. We had a refreshing dip in the sea. We returned to the boat at 5pm. There were two other yachts rafted on to us. They were locals and said that the harbour master was quite quick at opening and closing the bridge, and not always at the expected times. We all cast off and meandered up and down until the bridge opened enabling us to enter the marina.

Wind SE-NW (every direction) 2-6 Sunny then wet and very wet

We had Captiva tied up by 8:30pm, time to grab a quick takeaway meal in town.

After a leisurely breakfast and sorting the laundry we walked to Warkworth. A lovely village and castle.

We then hopped onto a bus to Alnwick. We visited the castle, which was used in some of the Harry Potter films.

We then visited Alnwick gardens

Wind 2 Southerly Grey skies and some rain, calm seas

We left Amble at 9am after refuelling. We had a leisurely motor sail in gentle southerly winds.

Video of the Farne Islands, unfortunately visibility not great so no pictures of Holy island and Lindisfarne

Eyemouth is predominantly a busy fishing harbour but the harbour staff were very welcoming. The weather forecast was for 90% rain after midday. We had a quick walk around Eyemouth town and restocked our food stores in the morning.

In the evening we had a short walk to the south side of the harbour. Back on the opposite side we had probably the best restaurant meal of our entire trip. Would really recommend Oblo Bistro in Eyemouth. Food and service fantastic. Sue had a sea bass, crayfish and mint pasta followed by mint chocolate cheesecake. Richard had haggis croquettes, meatballs, olives and chips followed by lemon posset. Lovely.

Richard was born in Musselburgh near Edinburgh. He lived in Edinburgh until he was 9 years old before moving to Bristol. We did some research and there are thirteen things you should never say to a person from Scotland https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/13-things-never-say-person-from-scotland/

We are nearly half way through our journey around Britain. We are both feeling very relaxed. Sue has rediscovered sleep. Maisie has settled in to this new lifestyle. She usually wakes us up at sunrise (4:25) but tomorrow we leave Eyemouth at 3:30am. The tides are neaps and we have to be in Arbroath by 1:32pm for the locks………….. to be continued…