Lincoln

May 16

Today we said goodbye to our little cottage in Gunnerside. It was drizzling to start out but the rain soon stopped and we headed across country towards the North York Moors in sunshine.

We had been recommended a tearoom in a moors village. when we arrived at 10:20 we discovered it opened at 10:30. So we waited. A quaint little place. Only a short stop because we had a lot to see and do.

View over North York Moors

We arrived in Whitby and although the sun was shining it was cold and blustery. Well I suppose it is on the coast. We found parking easily and went on a tour off the town. First stop Captain Cook and the whale bone arch. 

Bathing boxes on sea front

Whale bone arch looking through to the Abbey

Captain Cook, son of Whitby

View across the harbour

Typical seaside town shop

We walked along the harbour front past all the seaside amusement parlours ad's shop selling fishing nets and other children's amusements. Across the swing bridge to the old town. Up the 199 steps to the church and Abbey ruin on the hill.

They breed very large sea gulls here

A lovely walk and the sun was still shining. 

So, off to our lunch stop at Robin Hood's Bay. A delightful cliff-side village with quaint lanes beckoning us off the cobbled main street which its car-less.

View looking back to Robin Hood's Bay

Although time was getting on and we still had a way to go to get to Lincoln, we called in to Scarborough, just to see what a main northern seaside town was like. It was certainly busy and interesting to visit. Quintessentially English with donkey rides on the beach to boot.

We were now not likely to arrive in Lincoln in the predicted time frame, So it was a little worrying that we had been having trouble with our mobile connection as we would not be able to let our accommodation know.

Arriving in Lincoln at 6 pm, we were greeted with the information there had been a mix up with our booking. That was the bad news. Three good news was they had negotiated with another place to put us up for the same price. Too late in the day to question the arrangement, but it was not as satisfactory as we would probably have liked. Oh well, it was a bed for the two nights.

As it turned out we were quite lucky as Lincoln was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters the next day and pretty much everything was booked.

May 17

We had heard the Lancaster bomber fly over after we had settled in. Our luck was in even more when we arrived at the cathedral the guide told us it was flying over again this morning and he hoped to have us up on top to see it.

The famous Lincoln Imp, in the V of the adjoining arches

View from the Tower

Bell ringers chamber

Close up ofRose Window we walked past on our tower tour

Brochures layed out for the service commemmorating the 70th anniversary

40s tunes from a WAF member

I got it in video. I happened to be standing in just the right spot. Marvellous.

After some refreshments we visited the castle. We had discovered that the Lancaster was to return again in the afternoon and as we were able to re-enter the castle we would takes full advantage.

We enjoyed lots our time at the castle and still had plenty of time to wander around the town. We were back at the castle in plenty of time before everyone else had the same idea.

Crowds outside the info centre

Two jets fly over heralding the arrival of the Lancaster

Here she comes

With a couple of fly pasts I managed some reasonable shots
I was flanked by others with long lens cameras but as I said when I stationed myself between them
I can get my camera in my pocket!!

We saw the fly over with an excellent view. Walking back to our lodgings we found a pub for dinner in handy walking distance. So ended our visit to Lincoln.

The next day we were having lunch with friends en route to Royal Tunbridge Wells, our base for a further two nights.