Whitby, North Yorkshire.(Day 2)

All through the night the wind  battered us, causing our pop top to shake a little. The unrelenting rain battered Margery, and just to mix it all up a little, the wind decided to change direction, so we weren't parked quite in the right direction. This morning, a little water ingress on Angela's side of the pop top. Don't be thinking she's leaking, it was the weather directing it's worst at us. Today we decided to sit tight. Just a little way down the coast, the direction we are heading, the wind speed was forecast to be double that expected here at Whitby. Also, on Saturday evening at Staithes after we returned from our walk around the village Angela slipped off the vans side step skinning her left shin. Yes, she's still as accident prone as ever! Fortunately it's not her driving leg, as Margery has a automatic gearbox. Late last night after many hours of walking around Whitby she noticed her leg was very swollen. So a change of dressing and a compression bandage applied she retired to bed with her leg raised in order to rest it. This morning her leg was much improved. Lunchtime the bad weather relented a little and we made a break for it, walking into town, stopping at the historic 13th century St. Mary's church, it's cemetery referenced in the novel Dracula.

We hoped to lunch out at a pizza restaurant, but being a Monday they were all closed except one, which had no customers, not really the best advert. So it was hot pasties, and delicious they were as well.

This evening there are only a handful of vans in the parking area by the abbey. The wind is once again doing It's worst. It's now becoming a little tedious. Tomorrow we want to visit Flamborough Head, so we are really hoping the wind abates overnight as forecast. Can't be taking accident prone Angela up on the cliff tops in a high wind!

A Whitby Jet workers sign.

Whitby, North Yorkshire

We woke early to a beautiful bright morning. Keen to make the most of the weather we were away fairly early, Whitby our destination.

Arriving at the car park adjacent to the ruins of the abbey which sits high on the clifftop overlooking the historic sea port below, we noticed there were quite a few vans parked, and despite signs forbidding overnight parking, we knew they'd probably all been parked up overnight. John enquired at a nearby van, and yes, it was alright to stop over, the rangers it seemed were very lax about it, as long as you bought an overnight ticket at a cost of £11.90 and respected the area. It was a no brainer, English Heritage own the site, why wouldn't they welcome this additional income. Result! That was our overnight park up sorted.

Whitby was busy, very busy. Throngs of people filled the narrow pebbled streets, cafes, restaurants and bars were bursting with people. Despite a cool breeze, many people sat out, on any available perch they could find and ate fish and chips.

After a very long walk discovering the town we also partook of this English delicacy. The town is celebrated for its wonderful fish and chips, and there are certainly a lot of places to buy them. We found a little place near the marina, sat inside, and realised most people around us were local. As always we were soon made to feel 'Yorkshire'. A huge piece of haddock for John and Whitby scampi for Angela. As expected, delicious. Stomachs full, further walking was required, this time over to the shore below the Abbey where of course a few pieces of sea glass were found. 

Then, as forecast, late afternoon a few spots of rain began to spot the ground. This evening, we have kept Margery's pop top down and will raise it later once the strengthening wind calms a little. Our plans for tomorrow, who knows, the forecast is not great. I'm sure whatever we decide to do, it will be enjoyable.