The four corners of Yorkshire - well almost on the Summer solstice and Greg's birthday!!!

Today the sun shone, for the whole day, and believe me the people all chose to be outside enjoying  the perfect weather.  They had festivals at different places, and probably there will be a lot of sunburnt bodies tomorrow!

Now for all the history people, York has seen some battles in its time.  The Vikings came about 1200 years ago, then they fought a battle with King Arthur, who lost, and then while they were recovering at a place called Stanton Bridge, his army fought and won!

But victory was shortlived, while the Vikings retreated, William the Conqueror was landing down the coast ready to invade.  So King Arthur had to turn around and walk all his soldiers up hill and down dale, until they  came to the area now known as Battle, where they fought against William's soldiers, and lost!

That was 1066.  Since then there have been many battles, and the last Yorkian King was King Richard III whose body been found buried under a car park.  Driving around I think we have visited every square inch of the place.  It is located in a very wide valley, so would have been a perfect spot for a battle or two.

Northwards we went to a very picturesque place called Whitby.

 On the coast, and home to a lobster and crab fishing industry.  I have never seen so many pots, each fisherman is allowed 1000, and they troll around the rocky shoreline.  They get 7 quid for a lobster, and most are exported.  Any wonder lobster is expensive!

They caught an eel

Looking back to the square and the station, there were so many people out and about

It seems that having a meal of fish and chips in Whitby is the done thing.  Everyone was munching away and then the lineup to the pub was amazing!

We all lined up to watch the swing bridge open!  Almost felt like the Ekka! 

Across the bridge we all thronged, and walked to Captain Cook museum.  Not much of Australiana in that museum, it was more about the home owner, who Cook was apprenticed to, and given that he lived there for 18 months.  Apparently the town museum had heaps of information, but once again parking was at a premium.  Now I know why the rail network is popular!

Around the streets we walked, and bought crab sandwiches for lunch, but I didn't enjoy mine, very strong flavour,  thick brown bread and crab roe, doesn't compare to ours.   Should have gone for the fish and chips, this shop had Chinese lined outside, and sold it looked like, breadcrumbed fish, and in small sizes.

Won an award for best fish and chips

Street scenes and bubbles

Towards the ocean

Narrow laneways

Couldn't believe this, it snows sometimes in winter!  Hard to imagine.

 As well as having a look around we were also headed to the laundrette.  Sounds funny going 47 miles to do the washing, but we met some other Aussies there, they had driven 27 miles, and then a fellow arrived, with his dog and a large bag of washing, he had come on the bus from where he lived 25 miles away.  As you can gather, laundromats are a rarity.  Makes it very difficult when travelling for a long time.  This will be our last wash!

But to get to the laundrette we drove over a bridge, and just before us on double yellow lines, a taxi stopped and someone jumped out to get a photo.  Any wonder, the view from here was superb.

Washing done, we then drove to Scarborough. What  can you say other than gob smacking.  If you live here you must see Scarborough.  We tried a couple of illegal photo stops.  People were jam packed everywhere.

The surfers were hoping for some waves, the kids were swimming, donkeys gave rides, people were in the penny arcades, and every other vantage point along the esplanade.  Restaurants were overcrowded, the ice-creams were doing a roaring trade.  

Carousel - Shades of Simon and Garfunkel!

People were sun-baking, the lifesavers where out, sandy beach and blue sky.  It just felt like home!

We never really worked out what all the buildings were, but the railway station and a spa and their theatre were all outside the area we illegally parked.  Photo overload, but done so you can capture the essence of the day, and feel the sunshine as well!  

So goodbye to Scarborough, it must be bedlam in the peak seasons!  A place worthy of a much longer visit.

 On the way we drove through lovely countryside, with many manor houses.  Quite pretty again.  So many motor bikes on the road, found this Harley at a toilet stop.

And back through Stanton Bridge, where there was a lot less people roaming around than this morning.

A glimpse at the viking garden at the edge of town

We headed west to Tadcaster, where Rev Peter Hartnett Jennings, John's g.g.grandfather was a cleric at the St Mary's Church about 1846.  A magnificent church, in a small place that houses 3 breweries. 

House is the Council Chambers but dates 1500's.

We had dinner at the Coach and Horses, another old pub in the town.  Wonder if g.g.grandfather ate his evening meal in there?  An unanswered question!

Tomorrow to Lincoln.  Not far down the road, but we need to fix a tyre first, and we manage to find enough things to do along our driving routes!