Oh I do like to be beside the seaside (X 2)

[hallelujah]

So, having not spent much time in England for the last 18 years, I've spent the last 4 or 5 months or so at home enjoying numerous weekends and long breaks away with my wife and parents. My mum isn't really one for nature, but my dad is and he's always getting these offers for short breaks in caravans, so I decided to book one with a view to catching up with some friends on the east coast (Yorkshire).

The drive over to the white rose county was the typical English "summer" we've been having of late:



But around 2 and a half hours later we arrived at our extremely humble abode.





Not much room for much of much in here, but for 40 quid a night for 4 people in the times we're living (existing?) in, who's complaining? Certainly not a man who spends his weekends in Wetherspoons! There were a few places on the site for food, beer, coffee, amusements etc, which I don't have any pictures of for some reason, and after getting some fairly average food and a couple of pints, we retired for the evening while making a mental note to brick this fella's windows the following night after 10 pints of Stella.



The reason for getting this place was its perfect location just outside Scarborough and right on the Cleveland Way for walking. Scarborough can be seen in the distance.



Unfortunately, it became clear after checking the weather for the next day that there was gonna be plenty of it after about 2.30pm, so we set off along the Cleveland Way at about 9am with the hope of getting as far as Flamborough head (15 or so miles).



Coming into the seaside town of Filey about an hour later and the skies began to look pretty ominous.

No flies on this lot on the wrong side of the Pennines that's for sure.



Filey is a pleasant little English town where nothing much seems to have happened for quite a while and time seems to be standing still. A bit like Yorkshire as a whole really although I did read that in 1931 a church spire was damaged by the wonderfully named Dogger Bank Earthquake, so I hope that didn't cause too much of a kerfuffle.



I love this picture.



Obviously, the town has centred around the fishing industry throughout its history and there was a pretty impressive sculpture depicting the decline of said industry (more of this later).





It's a very pleasant little seaside town with numerous fish and chip shops dotted about along with rock, sweets...and pound shops.





The average age of the local population was about 127, give or take a year or two, so you can leave your day glow sticks and party frocks at home if you ever visit.







Anyway, after investigating the town, we got back on to the huge beach and headed further south:



As well as sandcastles there were also numerous dead birds littered around, which were clearly testament to the recent bird flu outbreak.

[hallelujah]

Unfortunately, we made a bit of a boo boo here and came off the beach and into a local village.

Resisting the urge for a pint in the local



I noticed that Chitty had recently popped by and written the collective noun for a group of City fans on the country road.



Finally, after a 2 mile detour, we got back on the Cleveland Way with where we had come from well behind the cliffs in the distance...



...but where we were heading, Flamborough Head, also remained some way in the distance.



With trouble most definitely brewing in those skies...



...feet aching and both feeling rather hungry, we stumbled across a bus that was heading for Bridlington!



Along the way we were treated to some Yorkshire porn



Excellent fish, frozen chips and dry mushy peas for me



Steak pie, chips peas and gravy for the SE Asian contingent



As it was an early rise the next day (the long-awaited fishing trip), we headed back home on the bus, with this putting a wry smile on my face:







To be continued...

[Joe 90]

Nice to see you making use of your bucket and spade!

Wait till the members see your fishy pics.

[hallelujah]

Nice to see you making use of your bucket and spade!

Wait till the members see your fishy pics.

That's coming up tomorrow. Or when I can be arsed next anyway (so probably next week).

[Backspin]

I do like to be beside the seaside

Its great innit.

Curious where you spend your time in Thailand.. Chiang Mai ?

[DrWilly]

Great walk. Looks like you got on that bus just in time. Cherry cola with your fish n chip? Do they not sell beers?

[Backspin]

Wouldn't be Shrilly if he wasn't telling someone how to do it. Maybe he didn't feel like having a beer. Cherry Coke is a fine beverage.

[cyrille]

^^ In a fish & chip shop, almost certainly not.

[DrWilly]

^^ In a fish & chip shop, almost certainly not.

Shame, they are missing a trick (and obviously it's a government mandate).

[cyrille]

By the looks of things, a cup of tea would be most punters choice.

Then get home while the bus pass is still in play.

[hallelujah]

The next day saw an early rise for a trip on the ocean waves in search of supper. The weather from the previous day was still lingering as we arrived at the harbour.



As referred to above, the fishing industry has been in decline for many a year and what would have been the scene of hundreds of boats emptying their wares or heading out to sea 50 years ago was eerily silent. Indeed, what remains is now largely dedicated to lobster and crab fishing.



And a pirate boat.



It was too early for the Colombians of Bridlington but, undeterred, we set sail with the clouds eventually beginning to lift.








The first fish of the day was mine and so it continued throughout the day with a constant catch of cod(ling), pollock, whiting and countless mackerel.





I even learned how to gut the fish.





While a seal even popped by to see if there was to be an easy lunch for him (or her).

[hallelujah]

Upon returning to port what better way to end the day than with some classic British seafood and an ice cream?

Attachment 105340

Attachment 105341

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"Fish"cake...British style.

Attachment 105344
Low on much fish, heavy on fat and potato and strangely satisfying in a way it really shouldn't be.


There's nothing that can compare with a 99 ice cream by the coast in Britain though.

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And then it was time to retire for the evening with our spoils from the day.

Dinner for me:

Attachment 105347

Dinner for her:

Attachment 105348

Unfortunately, we'd given our catch away as we hadn't come prepared to cook them properly and wouldn't have been able to keep them fresh for our return home. A mistake we won't be making next time...

[malmomike77]

Hal, Whitby just up the road with probably 3 or the best Chippies in the UK imo

[hallelujah]

Hal, Whitby just up the road with probably 3 or the best Chippies in the UK imo

Whitby is truly fantastic, bit we've been there the last 2 or 3 times so decided to check out the other direction this time.

[hallelujah]

Looks like the TD photo gremlins are at work again. The recent photos were showing fine 10 minutes ago but are now shown as attachments when I log in.

[malmomike77]

^ happens to me everytime i try doing a thread and i just give up after about 10 pages

[hallelujah]

^ happens to me everytime i try doing a thread and i just give up after about 10 pages

Always problems but it seems to be a problem with the 2nd lot of photos I upload (last night and again this morning).

[malmomike77]

^ i'd say persevere but that would make me a hypocrite

[Shutree]

By the looks of things, a cup of tea would be most punters choice.

That would be my first choice, because when I am at the seaside it is almost always cold, wet and windy. Nothing better then than a cup of tea with fish and chips.

Coke of any flavour doesn't pair with any food known to man.

Coke aside, excellent thread Hal.

[Shutree]

happens to me everytime i try doing a thread and i just give up after about 10 pages

I have a couple of pics pending. It takes me time to wind up my resolve.

[hallelujah]

That would be my first choice, because when I am at the seaside it is almost always cold, wet and windy. Nothing better then than a cup of tea with fish and chips.

Coke of any flavour doesn't pair with any food known to man.

Coke aside, excellent thread Hal.

I should add in my defence that we'd just walked 13 miles along the coast and were spitting feathers. I don't drink much tea - it's usually coffee or water - so we decided to treat ourselves to our favourite fizzy pop drink, cherry coke, as the decent coffee options in a chippy are, as you and Cy will know, somewhat lacking.

[hallelujah]

Its great innit.

Curious where you spend your time in Thailand.. Chiang Mai ?

Bangkok and, if its the beach, usually Koh Chang.

Im not a great fan of Chiang Mai although it has grown on me a little more in recent visits.

[taxexile]

The Flamborough headlands and Bempton, a bit south of where you are now, is well worth a visit, but of course you need decent weather. It has been awful for about 6 weeks now. Down to brexit obviously. Brussels has disconnected our jetstream control lever.

[hallelujah]

We went to Bempton and Flamborough the next day in the hunt for Puffins. Pictures coming soon.

[Shutree]

It has been awful for about 6 weeks now.

The wettest July since records began in 1836, according to the Beeb. Mendip chose probably the wettest few weeks in 200 years to visit. He should buy a lottery ticket when he gets back.