Kingfisher.

  Watching car wheels spinning on the steep and icy exit to the car park gave us pause for thought regarding our prospects later.  We had woken to a superb but very icy morning and had just parked in the Wits End car park at Sandsend just north of Whitby.

Whilst the tide was far enough out, not wanting to be caught out like yesterday, we chose beachcombing first and a walk along the old railway line later.  Again the dominating sound was the roar of the huge waves as they crashed onto the beach.  The air was full of spray making for misty views along the beach to Whitby and its abbey set high above the town on the east cliff .  We wandered down to the tide edge, the smooth glistening sand providing superb reflections for photography.  We always enjoy exploring Sandsend beach as it is a wonderful source of pebbles and treasured sea glass as well as having an excellent wave cut platform under the cliffs.  On here we regularly find amonites set into it often coated with iron pyrites or fools gold.  On the cliffs today we were delighted to spot the irridescent blue and rich amber colours of a kingfisher which delighted us even more by plunging into a rock pool and catching a fish which it quickly dispatched and swallowed whole.  We followed it along the cliffs for 100m or so, enjoying the spectacle of several more fishing attempts.  At one point I attached a short telephoto lens to the camera and enjoyed photographing the huge waves racing across the bay, their crests streaming out behind them, blown by the northerly wind.

Leaving the beach in plenty of time today, we climbed up to the old railway line.  The plan was to find a pleasant spot for lunch but the weather had different ideas.  Clouds had blown in and before long we were walking in flurries of snow.  Walking as far as the blocked off tunnel we were able to shelter under its overhang for lunch.  Making our way back, the sky along the horizon began to clear, raising our hopes of photographing the full moon rising above the harbour.

By the time we returned to the car park it had had thawed somewhat facilitating our exit.  Back in Whitby, we retired to Bothams for tea and stickies while we waited for the appointed hour.  Annoyingly thick cloud had blown in and, instead of clear skies for moonrise, we had heavy, wintry rain.  There was nothing for it but to retreat to the hostel

Venturing out later to dine at The Marine, the sky had cleared and there were excellent views of the full moon over the abbey with Mars adjacent to it.  This week is the closest approach of the planet to Earth.  December's full moon is known as The Cold Moon, a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions at this time of year, when cold weather begins to exert its grip. 

The Cold Moon, Mars above and to the right.

We narrowly avoid an unplanned wade at Robin Hood's Bay

Peering through the leaded panes of the dinning room, the rain poured down so, following breakfast, we retreated to our rooms until by 10.00 it had cleared somewhat so the decision was made to rerun yesterday's plan for beach mooching at Boggle Hole and Robin Hood's Bay.  Having put my bag in the car, however, we discovered that the trailer we had parked next to had blown into the car during the night.  Fortunately the situation was better than it at first seemed.  On moving the trailer we had got away with a slight scratch.  

Once parked up at Boggle Hole we were soon down on the beach having noticed water pouring over the weir by the youth hostel with a force we had never known.  Wading through the beck to the beach we were greeted by the loud grumbling roar of the huge surf rolling into the bay.  The sharp whiteness of the breakers was set against a thunderous black sky which at one time sported a superb rainbow.  We revelled in pottering along towards Stoupe Beck Sands, beachcombing and bird watching.  Peter and I enjoyed close views of a flock of turnstones with a purple sandpiper in its midst.  As we made our way along the beach our progress was puntuated by the crump of debris falling from the shale cliffs. I wandered along  enjoying the crackle of bursting bladderwrack vesicles under my feet.  The flask of Heinz tomato soup at Stoup Beck Sands was most welcome; the ultimate comfort food.  Making our way back towards Boggle Hole we gradually began to realise that the tide was coming in much more quickly than we expected [ it was still 3 hours to high tide] and we had to run to avoid an unplanned waist deep paddle; as it was water came over one or two wellies.  As used as I am to watching tides and as well as we know this beach, it was a timely lesson not to treat the sea lightly.  

Having reached dry land we climbed up the steep path to walk along the cliff top to Robin Hoods Bay for a mooch around Bay Town and tea and stickies in the Old Chapel Cafe.  The light along the way back was superb with the sunset colouring up the sky.  It was time to return to the hostel for some rehydration before heading down into Whitby for our evening meal at The Marine.

To view large, please click on a thumbnail.  All images December 2022.

Whitby, December, Day 1.

Mia delivered to the cattery and the car loaded we were awy on schedule at 10.00.  The journey went well, first in good light and sun, but rapidly turning to very heavy wintry showers.  We were headed to Boggle Hole to meet Peter and Linda but in view of the weather, rapidly approaching high tide and road works on the M62 we opted to divert to the  Danby Moors centre high up Eskdale.  One of our favourite visits there are always interesting exhibitions and books to browse and a good cafe next door.  On our way back to the hostel we diverted to West Cliff to see if there was any chance of moon photos, but, although catching a glimpse, it scuttled off behind heavy cloud cover.

Settled into our spacious room in the hostel it is nearly time for some rehydration before heading down the famous 199 steps from the abbey to The Magpie for the traditional first night fish and chips. 

As always views down the steps across the harbour were magnicint, despite the lights being out, and the Christmas lights in town were welcoming. 

To view large, please click o an image. All from 2019

A Misty Day on the Horsefield

 It was cold and misty as I entered the cemetery, midafternoon and I was going to be lucky to get round my walk in the daylight.  I walked half a circuit of the woodland burial ground and then squeezed through the gap in the fence to reach the Horsefield.  Although trees are rapidly losing their leaves now, those left still glowed gold, yellow and bronze, like stained glass windows.  There were quite a few birds in evidence today, surprising after a much quieter visit a few days ago.  Hazel and alder catkins are now well formed and ready for the first warm days next year.   A lap of the Horsefield took me back through the fence from where I completed my circuit of woodland burial ground and cemetery in the gathering darkness.  It was good to return home and settle down in front of the fire with a cup of tea and my book.

To view large, please click on an image