Moors to Dales, Lovin' Yorkshire

After Robin Hood's Bay Seal and I scooted through the Yorkshire Moors. There is one main road that circles around the area (about 100 miles around), with the terrain looking rather flat or a bit rolly. But once off that road, you go down very steep (25%) grades to the valleys below.


We had some onlookers while we were maneuvering these tiny backroads, occasionally having to turn around (9-point turn!).


We should really invent a sheep that eats thistle and stinging nettles, two plants that this country has WAY too many of.


A tad breezy up on the moors!


Every village was cuter than the last one. I was really proud of myself for driving on the left. I got used to it pretty fast and with Seal helping ("Stay left! Stay left!") I was soon zipping around corners, parallel parking and even softly cussing at Brit drivers to hurry it up!


In one of these valleys is Rivaulx Abbey. I'd been here 2 years ago and wanted to show Seal. We didn't go in, just walked down the road a bit to look.


The tiny village surrounds the abbey and this Historical Trust site is right in their back yard. Ho hum. They probably find it annoying with all the tourists coming through.


We ate lunch in this farm shop along the way. There are many of these places in England. They grow their own produce, raise their own meat and sell right on the property. There is also a cafe in the loft and tables right by the cattle. It did smell 'barny' which doesn't bother me but I could see that some folks wouldn't want to eat their apple pie by cow pies.


The structure is a very long barn made of stone. I've seen many of these turned into homes.


I thought the displays of produce so enticing. Kale, onions, leeks, cauliflower.


Gooseberries and strawberries...mmmmm




Didn't have a chance to try the Magnet Ales but I sure did like the sign.


We took a twisty turny road, down, down, down to this little railroad depot. I guess it's a town as it was on the map but it consists only of the depot, an artist's studio and a B&B. After looking around a bit, we continued on but ended up in a thick forest and after taking a number of roads, decided it best to turn around and head back the way we had come. Good thing too. We didn't have a very good map but did have "Miss Mapple", our GPS. She kept recalculating but we overrode her and turned around. When we did get to look at a more detailed map, it seems we would have come to a dead end.


Happy train!






Always polite.


A few more sights along the way....


There are so many little stands in front of people's homes. Usually it's plants or flowers. I thought this one was so cute. I may put up one in front of my house in Barnesville. One summer, about 15 years ago, I had an abundance of zinnia flowers. I cut many bouquets and put them in a large bucket out front, with a little 'honesty' box for money. The boys were young then and thought it so much fun to lift up the top of the box and retreive the money.


Just a little castle ruin in a village. La de da. We were walking from the car park to the market and passed it on the way.


This is one of those very steep roads. It's about to drop off and I wanted to see how steep it was before driving over what seemed like a cliff. It was ok, but a wee bit scary when other cars were coming up. Pulling over was a challenge, especially trying not to hit the sheep. This particular sheep was laying in the road when we came by the first time and was still in the same place on our return an hour later.

Gotta Knit!

Of course I can't travel without my knitting. I had my projects picked out, yarn dyed and dried, patterns printed, yarn wound, needles arranged and all neatly packed in individual bags way before I had my clothes packed. Maybe that's why I almost forgot my passport! Yikes! I really almost forgot it. The only reason I remembered it was because when I went to do on-line check in, they asked for my passport number. Holy crap! Luckily it was in the file cabinet under 'Passports'. Whew!


But I did remember my 4 knitting projects. This is a new mitten pattern I'm designing. No design yet, just basic knitting and will add something to the top and probably a ruffle on the cuff. They're knit with my Salsa in the color Fruit Sorbet.


Project number 2 is the Picot Eyelet Socks. Knitting them with Salsa in my semi-solid turquoise color. I jump from the mitts to the socks and will maybe be able to finish them. I thought I would get a lot more knitting time riding to the Dales but Houston didn't go along so I had to drive. No knitting time for me. But Seal was knitting my 'Going to the Barn Handwarmers' actually finished them in time for me to wear them. Thanks!


This doubled-over edge gave me so much trouble. I ripped it out twice and finally just made do with a bit of a twist to it. Pooh!


Here's my darling needle holder. I got it at the Sheep and Wool Fest and love it. It's very handy for traveling.


Sometimes I can be organized.


And here's some hopefuls. A wavy scarf with Briar Patch (color) Salsa...


and some involved patterning handwarmers out of my Sock Hop in the Bordeaux color. I should take these along on our jaunt this Wednesday to France. I plan on sitting in the old city of Lille, drinking coffee, eating a pastry, watching people and knitting.

Off to Robin Hood's Bay

Seal and I rented a car to take us the 3 1/2 hours up north to the Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales. We turned that 3-1/2 hour trip into a nearly 7-hour trip, due to stopping along the way and taking pics, eating at a pub, and pulling in to any shop that might sell jewelry. But we made it to one of my favorite places I've ever been, Robin Hood's Bay, perched right above the North Sea. This was my third visit here and not my last I hope. I was here 2 years ago with two of my sons and they said this was their favorite spot too. I would love to spend a week here, painting, writing, reading, knitting and meandering along the cobblestone streets.


This is the view from the road leading down to the nearby villages of RHB. The houses are all stone and the rooftops red tile.


We got to our B&B, The Villa, had a quick glass of wine (OK, 3 glasses of wine!), then walked down the very steep hill to the main part of the village. Earlier in the week Houston had bought me a couple walking sticks to use as a cane and I must say, they came in very handy. I was moving very slowly, but every day got better and better. We were lucky enough to be on this trip on the longest days of the year so by the time we started down to get something to eat, the light was low, the moon up, the cliffs falling into the sea below and it was so achingly beautiful, we could cry.


The Bay Hotel is right on the water, with just a simple cobbled boat ramp between it and the water. There are fishing boats tied right up front, the fisherman in from a day on the water, eager for a beer.


Just above the ramp, across from the pub, is a rounded stone building with windows facing the sea. This bay was a major pirate place and these windows were used for a lookout for pirates. arghhh!


We rested our eyes on this sea shore scene, with the low light scattering pastel colors on the water.


With the tide low, there were rock outcroppings peeking up, filled with pockets of water.


After a delicious dinner, we walked back up the hill to our place of rest for the night. Passing this pub, with it's colorful lights, we almost ducked in for a nightcap.


We made it past though. But it was tempting!


This is the row of B&B's at the top of the hill. These were mainly built around the mid-1800's, catering to people coming for a respite from the cities. The first people to settle Robin Hood's Bay came around 1535, and some of the descendants still live here.


The next morning, after a full English breakfast, we walked down to the old part of town again. I can't get enough of the tiny, twisty walkways and the cute cottages built helter skelter along the cliffside.


But first a stop for our morning ice cream. It was SOOOO creamy, no low fat stuff here! It's made locally from the cows we saw grazing the thick grass when we were coming in.


We sauntered up, around, down, through, between and all over the pathways leading from one cute passageway to the next.


Cottage doors are painted brightly, offsetting the ubiquitous brown of the stone.


Even the rooftops offered a graphic picture of shapes and colors.


We'd come around a corner and go "ohhhhh cute!" or "ahhhhhh adorable!" It really is like a theme park of cuteness. But it's the real deal.





To make a place stand out from one to the next, the doors were either painted a bright color or studded with iron.


Even the pillow out drying in the sun, complemented the scarlet of the bench and trim.


Little courtyards across from the front doors afforded the family a quiet place to relax if they didn't have a back yard.


I meant to ask what these nets are used for. Kids brought them down to the water but they seemed to lightweight to use for fish. I wanted some of the nets though, they were in such happy colors.


Our proprietor of the Villa, Jane. She was so sweet to us, even let us use her computer for the entire evening so we could locate a place to stay in the Dales. We had a full English breakfast (of course!) along with 2 other couples who had just finished the Coast to Coast trail. The C to C trail is a 194 mile long path that leads from St. Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. When one hikes it, they are supposed to grab a pebble from one sea and throw it into the other sea. Our table mates had their pebbles to throw in after breakfast. Or they put their feet in both seas.


Regretfully leaving the Villa. But the Dales beckon!

Pahties!!!

Houston surprised me with a a little birthday bash in our flat the other night. He'd invited some of our friends here and we had a great time. (except that right before the party I twisted my knee and now can't walk very well). But I sat there on a chair in the middle of the room and everyone came over and wished me well.


Houston had Waitrose (it's like Whole Foods) cater the party and they delivered boxes of canapes and this beautiful chocolate cake.


Marcus is from Germany, teaching here in Cambridge.


Dan (Switzerland) and Laura (Austrailia) are here working and doing research.


Alejandro (Italy) and Simon (South Africa) are working with Houston in the chemical engineering department. It seems most everyone who came is from somewhere else, except a few folks from Cambridge who I failed to get a pic of.


It's May Ball week (the end of the school term and reason to celebrate) there are fireworks every night. I pretended they were celebrating my birthday. I great way to end a delightful day.


Then the next evening we went out to a neighboring village, Barton, to have an alfresco dinner with Gaby and Clemens and their two adorable children. It was a beautiful summer evening with flowing wine and great company.


I brought cheesy American presents to Leopold and Josephine. Leopold (4) took about 2 minutes to transform the monster guy to a forklift. It would have taken me most of the evening.


And Josephine (6) got a little pony thing with a tiny bucket and brush.


By 10:00 it was bedtime. Since we are so far north and it's nearly the longest day of the year, it doesn't get dark until nearly 11:00. It's hard to get kids to bed in the daylight. Good night!