The beach

 A weekend is really too short for a holiday, and the thing I hate about self catering accommodation is the fact you have to leave by a certain time. The Old Chapel leaving time was 10am, quite civilised I suppose. Even with Ian in tow we were locking the door and waving goodbye at 9.47. Impressive I thought.

We decided to park at Reighton Gap and walk along the beach giving Misty the chance to swim in the sea. There is a little free car park down by the beach and even on this bank holiday it was pretty empty when we arrived. The sky was a bit cloudy but it was pretty bright, and Warmer than it had been. I still wore my two jumpers, hat and scarf though. The first bit of the beach was pretty rocky, and Misty wasn’t really interested in rushing in as the pebbles hurt her dainty feet.

Bempton cliffs in the distance

Filey Brigg in the distance

We walked on down the beach a bit before coming across a distressing sight, a dead porpoise. The struggle to stop Misty rushing over to it was monumental, we all remember the dead seal at Cleethorpes incident don’t we? The three of us managed to corral her and move her on, down to a bit of the beach with more sand. We threw a few stones in for her to fetch, but no dice, she didn’t like that either. 

Swimming in the sea? I don’t think so!

We met many other dogs on the beach and much fun was had by all. After about a mile we came to Hunmanby gap, where we would climb back up to the cliff top to walk back. Ah! Here we have a flight of steps. No problem then as Misty rushed up with aplomb at North Landing, Flamborough only yesterday. Wrong! These steps, although identical to the ones there, were an insurmountable barrier to Miss Misty. Poor old Ian had to carry her up again, despite Roly rushing past and trying to entice her up. 

The old railing shot

Look at me, ma, I’m on top of the world!

The walk back along the cliff top was lovely yet again, and once there we jumped back in the car and headed down the coast looking for somewhere to have our picnic. We avoided Brid as we decided it would be too busy on this bank holiday, and headed for skipsea. No dice there as the road had fallen into the sea, as it had at the next little village. Hornsea then. But Hornsea appeared to be rammed. We turned around and did a big circuit trying to come in from a different angle. Still pretty busy but we managed to get past the first set of lights. There the traffic disappeared to who knows where and it was very quiet. Chris directed us to a car park at the end of town, which overlooked the sea, and was free!!

By now there were a few raindrops splattering on the window so we decided to eat the picnic in the car. Plenty of folks about so the people and dog watching was good. In need of a toilet break we headed ‘into town’ (Hornsea is tiny) along the promenade to find the public conveniences. We found the Floral Hall cafe instead with a large outdoor, under gazebo, seating area. Coffee and toilets in one. Great! 

Cheers everyone!

As we sat under the, possibly highly illegal, awning, we began to hear the pitter patter of heavy raindrops on the tarpaulin. The promised bank holiday bad weather had arrived at the East coast. We hot footed it back to the free car park, noticing that you have to pay to park everywhere else in Hornsea

As the rain teemed down we, and millions of others, made a hasty exit from the seaside.

Birds

 Another good nights sleep for me preceded a look at the weather forecast. A bright morning with rain coming in for the afternoon. Would we complete our excursion without getting wet? I decided to try and chivvy people along a bit with a view to having an early start. It worked quite well. We managed to leave the Chapel at quarter to eleven. 

Unfortunately, I left without my phone, meaning most of today’s photos would be minus people. Oh well. 

We took our usual route, but in a move that confused Misty, turned right at the cliff top toward Bempton Cliffs. This is a bird sanctuary with one of the countries largest sea bird colonies. As we progressed some clouds rolled in, but no rain. So far so good. 

The sticks are out for their first appearance of the year

As are the binocs

We soon arrived at the cliffs, and more and more seabirds were appearing over the sea and on nesting on the rocks. Mainly Gannets, there were also loads of Guillemots and razorbills. Plus the king of seabirds, puffins. 

Ian was in his element taking loads of bird photos. There were also, suddenly, crowds of people. It all felt a bit claustrophobic. We did manage to find a nice bench for a picnic though. How good is a Mars Bar in a picnic after a long walk? 

Bempton visitor centre also boasts a convenient convenience. This was where we parted ways with Chris, who wasn’t bothered about the next stage of our walk and was catching a taxi back to the Chapel. 

Ian and I continued on and it was at this point, while viewing a family of puffins flying on and off the cliff, that the rain began. I was wearing my raincoat already, over my two jumpers, but took advantage of the fact we still had Chris’s coat to wear two coats as well. But no worries, it was over almost before it had begun. 

We left the nature reserve behind us and followed the cliff top towards Flamborough. My mantra all day was ‘Ian, come away from the edge, it might collapse!’, as he strode right up to it to get a better view. As we dropped down into the village we got the binocs out one last time. Yes indeed, that was an ice cream van in the next bay. Reaching the next bay involved going down into a gully, and back out up a flight of steps. Miss contrary Misty leapt up them like a salmon. She must have known Ian was going to buy her a 99. 

As we sat on the bench overlooking North Landing, I dialled our chauffeur service. Not long after he arrived to take us back to the chapel. After eight miles my little legs were tired so I had a long soak in the jacuzzi bath. 

Football, Fish and Chips

After a wonderful nights sleep for me, and a horrific one for Ian (misty mooching, chewing feet, rattling the radiator,  staring lovingly into his eyes) we rose to a cold but sunny day. Ian cooked a lovely full English while I showered and a few problems came to our attention. 

1. The shower cubicle is tiny. The bathroom is huge. Why?!

2. The ceramic hob gets hot! Not like an induction hob which doesn’t  

3. Towels too small

4. Wine glasses too small. Imagine if Vicky or Heather were here!

5. Tea towels not absorbent enough

6. No pan scrubber

7. The garden contains a patch of dog attracting soil

8. No hairdryer

Despite all these inconveniences the breakfast was lovely, and sitting in front of the stained glass window with the sun streaming through dried my hair.

Full English

           

The hairdryer                                                        

                                                          Chris preaches from the pulpit

   Preaching to the converted                                             

After breakfast we decided on a walk down to the cliff tops. We were expecting a visitor and needed to be around the chapel for 2pm. I laid out lots of outfits, a la Heather, before deciding on two jumpers (a natty Norwegian number and my new Leonburger sweatshirt) and a raincoat. Hat, gloves and scarf. A snood would have been better, but we hadn’t got one here. 

Eventually we were ready to depart. 

Past the duck pond, through the bull field, (many, many cows close to path) through a couple of kissing gates, and over a small rise. And wow! An amazing view of Filey bay. 

We walked down the hill to the cliff top and sat on a bench gazing out to sea. Using my useful binocs I could see hundreds of seabirds flying off Bempton Cliffs to my right. A microlight flew past and dogs and owners cavorted on the beach below. It was a bit blowy so I was very glad of my two jumpers, coat, hat, scarf, gloves. Chris was glad of his scarf, but a snood would have been better

A snoodless Chris

Bempton cliffs in the distance

Taking in the view

We sat for a while before making the return journey up the hill. The cows had ventured even closer to the path and had a few calves with them. A recipe for being stampeded to death. We gave them a wide berth. Then back to the old chapel to wait for our visitor

Our visitor was Wooly, who had caught the train to Bridlington and walked round Flamborough head and along the cliffs to Speeton to illegally watch the football with us. Ian set up the laptop as he arrived, and we lunched on leftover pie, sandwiches and scotch eggs.

Socially distanced supporting

The game itself was a tense affair, especially with relegation rivals Derby taking the lead at Swansea, and us going behind early on (again). If things stayed the same we would be relegated. Thoughts turned to the teams we might play next year, and the weekends away we could expect, lockdown permitting, such as Blackpool, oxford and Cambridge. But in a late twist, Derby lost and we equalised to leave us in with a chance. Next weekend is now being dubbed, “Survival Saturday”. Amongst all the drama Chris got a text from the government inviting him to book in for his Covid jab. Helps being old. 

After all the stress and we were ready for another walk. We were joined for it by Woolys wife Caroline, daughter Cathy, Cathy’s new husband Liam, and Doug the Pug. Doug and Misty got on like a house on fire when Misty wasn’t putting Doug in his place. 

We took our usual route down to the cliff tops before walking along as far as Reighton caravan park. Kathy and Caroline decided to take a slow walk back up the hill, the rest of us made for the beach. Along the way we came across a couple of World War II pillboxes

Misty and Doug the Pug investigate

Jackie investigates

To get to the beach we had to negotiate a wood and a river valley. At one point it involved a descent so steep we had to cling onto a rope to get down

Eventually we emerged onto the beach where there were stunning views either way

The way back up to the cliff top was a little hair raising to say the least. A steep incline followed by a flight of steps. Doug the Pug bounced up with style, but Misty had to be coaxed along the first bit with a boot to the derrière. No amount of coaxing, however, would persuade her up the steps, and poor old Ian had to carry her up each one. 

Misty and the steps

A distant Doug the Pug

 

It was 7pm by the time we arrived back at the old chapel, and unlike what seemed to be the rest of the country, the sun was still shining down. Just one more thing to do now. A trip into Filey for some fish and chips