We awoke to lovely sunshine. Every day is different in England and we always seem to be looking up to see what the weather is going to do! It's all about the weather! The weather can make such a difference to your day, but one doesn't stay home because of the weather. You just wear appropriate clothing and ensure you have layers.

As the weather forecast was good, we had decided to go to Whitby. We would travel across the Yorkshire Moors, heading further north to the fishing port of Whitby, on the east coast of England.

The drive across the moors was beautiful and one could imagine how spectacular it would be when the Heather was in full bloom. Just a mass of purple. It was past its best, but there was still a touch of mauve, for as far as the eye could see.

On such a beautiful day parking was at a premium in Whitby, but Carl is a good spotter and was able to whip into a park, with their relatively new Audi. People.....there were people everywhere! We walked down past the fishing boats on the edge of the river, and were heading out to the end of the pier, when we noticed a replica of Captain Cook's sailing ship the 'Endeavour' sailing by.

The catchy music coming from the ship caught our attention and we waved to the people on board. The guy on the pier was advertising the next cruise and in a snap decision it was decided we would go for a sail! Seemed like a fun thing to do and Pete purchased four tickets before Gill and Carl had time to protest. Gill was to find out later in the week, that the replica is not always in Whitby. It sails from a number of different locations on the east coast.

You just don't get a day like this in Whitby'.

It was a great investment of a few quid! Magical sailing out past the lighthouse into the North Sea, without a jacket on. Looking back to the beach huts, the hotels on the headland, the rock formation that looks like a crocodile and Captain Cook's statue on the headland, which looks over to the Abbey and down onto the pier. In between telling us the story of Captain Cook's life, there was appropriate music. I could have even down some line dancing steps to the music they played on the ship!

You just don't get a day like this in Whitby'.

Captain James Cook (1728-1779) was born in the village of Marton near Middlesbrough and later apprenticed to a draper in the small fishing harbour of Staithes (11 miles north of Whitby). There he fell in love with the sea. Later he moved to Whitby and became a trainee with a local shipping firm. The house where he lodged with his master, is still in Whitby's Grape Lane and is open to the public as the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. Later, he joined the Royal Navy and was rapidly promoted to a command. It is as Captain Cook that the world still knows him – the man who charted the coast of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia and who was one of the greatest surveyors, as well as one of the finest sailors and explorers of all time. He learned his craft in Whitby, sailing vessels that were trading to the Baltic and two of the vessels he used on his long and perilous voyages – ‘Resolution’ and ‘Endeavour’ were built in Whitby.

After our very enjoyable cruise out into the North Sea with hardly any movement in the lovely blue water (Gill says you hardly ever see it this blue), we found a restaurant over the bridge to have fish and chips for lunch. Peter says he looked in the window of Captain Cook's Museum and saw the table set for his breakfast. I missed that. Our fish and chips were delicious and we walked them off, by climbing the 199 steps up to the Abbey. What a magnificent view it was from up there!

You just don't get a day like this in Whitby'.  

Whitby Abbey is a ruined Benedictine Abbey overlooking the North Sea, on the East Cliff above Whitby. It was disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry VIII and it is a Grade I Listed building in the care of English Heritage. The views from the hill are magnificent and well worth the climb of the 199 steps. At the top of the climb is Saint Mary's Anglican church which is still operational today. It was founded around 1110, although its interior dates chiefly from the late 18th century. The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 23 February 1954. The historic graveyard was apparently used as a setting in Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. There are plenty of walking trails over the cliff. We did the 'must do' photo shoots on such a beautiful day, with the Abbey in the background, before making our way back down the 199 steps.

You just don't get a day like this in Whitby'.

Time was moving on. We had parking until 3.20pm and we had over an hours drive home. Gill decided there was just time for us two gals to climb the steps up to the Captain Cook statue. The 199 steps to the Abbey was enough for Pete's leg. He and Carl made their way back to the car. We certainly had a work out by the time we made our way back up the pier and then the steps to the headland. But it was definitely worth it and the way we came back down, took us past some very old buildings and an ally way with a very nice view. The afternoon had become quite warm and it was actually quite sticky and humid!

You just don't get a day like this in Whitby'.

Back across the Yorkshire Moors we travelled, stopping for a drink at a pub. We actually sat outside in the sun and 'Yes'.....You just don't get a day like this in Whitby'.

It was still an absolutely beautiful day when we arrived home, so dinner was cold meat and salad out on the patio area. And the 'Aussies' didn't even put a jacket on! In actual fact later in the evening there was some lightning about. We heard the next day there had been a huge storm in the Manchester area that had caused damage. Gill also told us that it was 34 degrees in the south of England near Kent, where she lived over ten years ago. It was the hottest September day recorded in England since 1911.

We really do believe you Gill......"You just don't get a day like this in Whitby".