Tuesday 23rd July
Day 3 – Scarborough, Whitby, Middlesbrough and Newcastle
After another Premier Inn breakfast, and opening cards and presents, we headed off to Scarborough. Actually that is not quite true. It was raining – some of the only rain we saw on the trip – and so we took a very short detour to a designer shopping outlet. I agree, that sounds like NOT our thing at all. I don’t think between us we own a single piece of designer clothing … it just doesn’t interest us. However, they had a Starbucks and as it was miserable it seemed a good idea to stop there and get a drink.
As it happened we also shopped. They had an M and S outlet and I wear M and S short sleeved black t shirts at least three times a week and so I have a lot of them. They were on offer at 2 for £7. Bargain. Not as much of a bargain as the next one though.
I had wanted to replace my straw Stetson which I wear a lot in the summer. I love it as it is wired round the brim and so can be folded and crushed and battered and you can just reshape it really easily. I had seen the new version in Accessorise (where my original came from) but it was £24 and I couldn’t justify the spend. I subsequently bought another sort of hat and then saw the straw Stetson in Claire’s accessories for £14 but figured I wouldn’t bother.
When I saw a Claire’s in the outlet mall I figured I’d just go in and see if they had it cheaper in which case I might have been tempted. I looked and it was still £14. But whilst we were looking the assistant came over and we still can’t figure out how this deal worked.
‘We have a special offer today,’ she said. ‘You can buy any 5 items for £10 and it does include that hat you are looking at.’
We had to check several times but it seemed we had understood correctly. I could buy the £14 hat and four other items for £10! It seemed ridiculous. But who am I to argue. Did I manage to find 4 other items. Yup. I bought 2 hats (always good to have a spare put away) and three scarves. A total spend of £41 for £10. Nice!
By then the rain had stopped and we were on the road.
Our first stop was Scarborough and it was very misty whilst we were there. Somehow it added to the bleakness we had been kind of expecting. I guess the fact it was miserable did mean we got to see it. If it had been glorious sunshine I am figuring we wouldn’t have been able to just drive along the front with almost no traffic.
We thought the big hotel by one of the many cliff lifts was very imposing and we were amazed at the difference between North and South beach. We were also amazed at the cliffs literally teeming with gulls on every available ledge. Their noise was deafening.
We also couldn’t resist the photo of here.
On to Whitby via Robin Hood Bay (which was too busy to stop at) We started at the abbey which looms over the town and was another very good photo op. Seeing it from two different angles was a real contrast. Looking one way it looked bleak and moody and the other it was clear and bright. I think I kind of preferred the bleak.
We drove down into Whitby and were lucky to find somewhere to park. We had a very nice walk all along the harbour, just enjoying the atmosphere.
Nigel had seen a postcard with the whalebones on and so he ran (oh yes … we only had limited parking) up to take photos and I hobbled back along the harbour, doing a little window shopping as I went.
It had been a day of bargains thus far. Not so the next bit. We knew we had a bit of a journey to Middlesbrough and so figured a loo stop would be good before we left Whitby. 40p each! The most expensive wee we have ever had!
By now the
sun had come out really well and we headed for Middlesborough. Ok so that is
not everyone’s idea of the perfect holiday destination, but Nigel had read
about the transporter bridge, one of only 2 in the country and I think 4 in the
world. He had seen it on the TV show Auf
Wiedersehen Pet years ago.
When he first explained it to me I said no way as from what he said I assumed
the cars went across at the top not the bottom. But bottom it was an all was
well. We thought we may have to queue to get across but no – straight on and
over for the princely sum of £1.20. Brilliant.
On the other side we walked down the towpath and took photos in the sun and it was unbelievably hot.
Our next stop was one of the original reasons for the trip ooop north. Nigel had listed The Angel of the North as one of his must sees. We both expected to be kind of disappointed when we actually saw it, but we were so no! It was actually very impressive and we spent time wandering round. Looking at it from different angles and soaking up this definitive icon.
If you look carefully you can see a teeny little Nigel in front of the sculpture in the same pose! Well it amused us!
It was then into Newcastle. Actually we didn’t want to go in to Newcastle as we had chosen our next premier Inn just on the outskirts, but the sat nav had other ideas and so took us slap bang through the centre and across the Tyne bridge in rush hour traffic. Ah well. The bridge was another icon.
Besides which it would have been wrong to have not gone into the centre since I had spent weeks telling people who asked where I was going for my summer holiday that I was going to Newcastle. We were going to so many places but it was just fun saying Newcastle as it is perhaps not somewhere where people think of a summer holiday destination.
We had dinner in a Pizza Hut (yes we know how to live … but we do like it.
Our next Premier Inn was to be the base for two nights. Luxury. Some of the things even came out of the case at this one. That is actually the hardest thing about a road trip (well it is for me as I don’t do any of the actual driving as Nigel isn’t THAT brave) … living out of a case. I am a cancerian – I need a base with everything around me and everything in its place. You don’t get that on a road trip. However the other benefits of seeing so many new and different things all the time do actually outweigh this disadvantage.
Day three complete and another very happy and successful one at that.
I have scrapped a second page for the album which may well be the title page. Not sure yet.
I just loved that huge frame and think every town should have one
Today I am thankful for
- quiet days at home
- the cats being settled
- Pinterest (Oh dear I am soooooo addicted)
I'm very curious which Premier Inn warranted a 2 night stay? I suspect you were very close to my home. I'd have been shocked if I'd spotted you in Pizza Hut!
Posted by: Bev | July 31, 2013 at 10:58 PM
Indeed Bev... very close to my home too! Can't believe you bypassed Durham! Scarborough and Whitby are great places too though. And the bridges are iconic. The Angel - I did not like the Angel when it was first erected, but now it has weathered (as they said it would!) I love it. Enjoying reading about your trip and recognising the photos... although I still can't believe you were so close and I didn't have a cuppa with you! Looking forward to the next installment, jenx
Posted by: scrappyjen | August 01, 2013 at 12:36 PM
I live in Newport, where the other transporter Bridge is situated. Oh Dolly you could do a day trip from where you live to here to see it - unless Nigel has already been with the speedway and seen it before. We used to have an excellent Speedway track and team but not anymore I don't think. It would be lovely to be able to meet up with you if only to say hello! I am getting good at going out now.
Posted by: Ladkyis | August 02, 2013 at 01:26 PM