WORLD TOUR BY SHIP, TRAIN, BUS, FERRY, FEET 2012: DAY 56 SUNDAY MAY 20 WHITBY AND GROSMONT

We decided we needed to do some preparation for our bike tour next week, so we hauled out John and Cathy's bikes and set off at 6am to ride around inside the city wall for an hour. Cold but enjoyable as it is the only time when there are no people or traffic to distract us. Rode nearly every street we could find and came home for breakfast. Caught an 8.30am train to Middlesbrough and changed to another train through the Yorkshire Moors to Whitby. First stop was the James Cook Museum. Cook turns up around here as often as John Wesley. He learned his sailing skills as an apprentice in this town and is number one hero here. Next stop was Whitby Abbey which did not look as huge as it really is because it costs 12 pounds for two people to get up close to it. As we could see it all day from anywhere for nothing we did not buy tickets. Next stop the shops in the narrow streets which were just as crowded as York but not quite as numerous. After that the harbour entrance where we watched the 40% replica of the Endeavour negotiating the narrow entrance in rough seas. Over on the other side of the harbour we went past the awful "fun parlours" up to the Statue of Cook overseeing the harbour. While climbing we heard a brass band and thought "Whaddayaknow, the Grimsby Colliery lot are entertaining the tourists up the top" (not far to Grimsby from here). When we came over the brow we saw that it was in fact an excellent Salvation Army band standing in their traditional circle but just finishing their last item and packing up. Darn, should have arrived earlier. Then the leader said: "Come with us to the Crystal Spa Auditorium and join us for a concert. And it is free. So they marched along (not as good as the Royal Guards of course) to the beat of the big drum, and we followed. We remembered that this was the weekend when Whitby was hosting the Gospel Music Convention. We sat up the back and joined in the hymn singing for half an hour, finishing with And Can It Be and How Great Thou Art. Serendipity at work again.
It was time to catch our train back to Grosmont to try to find Pam, Dave and Stan on their Coast to Coast Trek. Got to Grosmont just as the big steam train was about to leave for Pickering for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Excursion. We also looked at the world's oldest tunnel. There was a hotel next to the Station so we inquired, and... yes, our friends were upstairs. We gave them a surprise when they opened the door to see us and we had a great time for an hour and a half swapping stories about our travels. Caught the 6.17pm train back to York and found the Cornish Pasty shop on the York platform was still open, so that took care of our dinner. Home at 9.20 after a wonderful day.