Scarborough in the Sun

Scarborough's South Bay captured from Oliver's Mount War Memorial overlooking the town

Not having had, nor wanted a holiday in the last couple of years for reasons I won't bore you with, I decided it was time for a break. The opportunity arose for a long weekend away while her indoors was at a religious knees up and so off I toddled to sunny Scarborough in North Yorkshire - and my goodness, was it sunny. 

Whilst not allowed to book into the accommodation until 2 pm., we wasted no time in booking the Sea life Centre and saving 40% on line booking fee for a visit and a game of crazy golf - and crazy it was!

Scarborough I have only sporadically visited in my life and never stayed more than a few hours at a time and don't know it at all well other then the sea front. It's about an hour and twenty minutes drive from where I live on a good day. There is evidence of Stone Age, Bronze Age and Roman occupation on the site which now occupies Scarborough and although little is recorded in the Domesday Book (1085), Royal Charters exist to allow markets on the sands in 1155 and 1163.

A couple of penguins trying to keep cool in the shade

It has a bit of everything for everyone really and during this very hot and lovely weekend, the town was packed. There was  Naval Battle reenactment in the town's park and the opera singer Katherine Jenkins was singing at the outdoor arena.

A recovering rescue seal pops up to say hello

We saw seals, penguins and all sorts of fish and water life at the Sea life centre including two rescued seals. A maddening game of mini-golf followed which I lost (because the winner has to buy the drinks) after which we booked into our accommodation which was beautifully clean and well appointed.

A walk around the park and tea at a local cafe then a wander into the south bay popular tourist area saw the night off for us.

The entrance to the Tramway to take us down to the beach area

Saturday started with a cooked full English breakfast, something I try to avoid but it was lovely and after a bus ride into the town, we walked around the town centre for coffee and travelled down onto the south bay beach via the tramway system which is like an old fashioned cable car on rails.

The Fountain in Peasholm Park

The afternoon found us at the Peasholm Park (opened 1912) and witnessing the famous fictitious naval battle using huge model powered boats operated by people sat inside them. This was good fun using explosions and running commentary and audience participation.

HMS Achilles, one of the model boats used in the model Naval battle (about 21 feet long)

After a lovely tea, we walked from the park area to Scalby on the north side of Scarborough and back again which seemed like a major trek, arriving at dusk tired but hugely satisfied with the effort.

A gentle drift home on Sunday brought to a close a brilliant weekend's break in the UK experiencing some extraordinarily hot summer weather. 

A panorama of Scarborough, (click to enlarge)

My final comment is reserved for the gulls, particularly the very big gulls, the very screechy noisy brazen gulls.  I have never heard so much screeching throughout the night as I heard during that break, waves of screeching noise, one gets set off and they all follow for a minute at regular intervals throughout the entire night. Needless to say, because it was hot weather overnight, the window had to be open, but the noise spoilt it really.

My photo of a Whitby gull, but the same species subject of a culling debate in Scarborough

Coupled with The Scarborough News paper headlines on gulls taking food out of people's hands, I would say they have a real problem. They wander about on the pavements between hordes of holiday makers without batting an eyelid waiting for the opportunity for people to drop food for them.

To cull or not to cull, that is the question, who needs educating, gulls or people? What do you think?

Thanks to Linda Lee for making this a wonderful weekend.

Have a great week ahead.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.

Sun at the Seaside

Today started with dark skies, persistent rain and a decided chill. We set off, a group of friends and I to Scarborough in North Yorkshire for an 'Air Show.' 

We got there just after 9.30am and the place was deserted with parking spots freely available but the weather had started to turn for the better and although the cloud persisted for a while, it turned progressively warmer and brighter as the morning wore on until a full blazing sun appeared late morning.

We did a bit of shopping and stopped off for lunch as the air show was to begin around 12.30 and go on to 5 o'clock. My chicken salad meant that we missed the first air display by a squadron of four planes doing things over the bay.

We caught the next display which was an Air Sea Rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield in east Yorkshire doing a practice rescue in the Bay of a man thrown overboard from a inshore lifeboat. They are my heroes. Whilst today was calm, imagine sending a winch man down in force 8 gales, mountainous seas and driving rain?

Finally, the afternoon was supposed to be capped off by a fly past of a WW2 Lancaster Bomber. It never arrived - it had broken down. 

Whilst mildly disappointed, it was still a pleasant relaxed day with armed services displays along the seafront, lots of brave people in the sea - actually swimming in the sea and warm balmy sunshine.

I hope you enjoy these few pictures.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.