I can’t say I felt very relaxed last night. Too many people had spotted me in the area, and although it’s probably represents a degree of paranoia, I decided to leave early and have breakfast in Runswick Bay. A lot of strange noises and grunting in the night, nearby deer I think
But last night was also the warmest I’ve felt in my sleeping bag on this trip so far, strange as I woke to find the tent covered in frost.
Packed up and on the move just after 5am. I descend to pick up a public footpath....at last I relax and feel I’m back where I’m allowed to be
If only I’d realised! I’ve been camping in a nature reserve. I would have had a much more relaxed and leisurely morning
But I would then have missed the sunrise over the sea at Port Mulgrave
Not quite a full sun rise, there being too much cloud, but pretty close
Despite the frost, the air was so still and calm that I decided to heat up my breakfast on a convenient bench. It is my top breakfast location of the trip so far, and follow it up with a cup of tea
Very surprised to be greeted by a guy walking from Runswick Bay, where he had camped the previous night. I thought at first that he was doing the Cleveland Way in the other direction, but it was just a night away from the wife and kids for him
Still a lot of frost on my packed away tent. Shook it off. There was enough to make the smallest miniature snowman
Next up was Runswick Bay, nestling into the hillside
Two seagulls. One very chatty, the other not interested
Walked along the narrow beach – the tide was in – but headed up the cliff one path too early. Now off route, but with no desire to descend the steep steps I had so exhaustedly climbed. My other option was to head further inland and pick up the disused railway to rejoin the Way just before Kettleness
There are slow moving showers over the sea, slowly making their way towards land. Whitby looks to be in their sights
Arrive at Sandsend, and walk the three miles to Whitby across the beach
Whitby means seaside means fun and entertainment
And goths and ice cream
I am heading for the one good pub that I know in the town: The Fleece, looking out over the river Esk. I ponder the option of booking myself into the youth hostel at Bogle Hole, it would be nice to have a bed and I probably need a shower. No, I definitely need a shower, but the hostel is fully booked
It’s Goth weekend in Whitby, and I have to fight my way through the crowds
The Moaning Lisa is an inventive act, ‘she’ complains endlessly
Past the old Abbey
Past the old lighthouse, if you are into sea views then you can rent this as a holiday retreat
I can see the next shower heading my way
But it doesn’t last long,
and it’s a very pleasant six and a half miles to Robin Hoods Bay
I stop for a wash and to freshen myself up in this stream
RHB comes into view, it keeps itself hidden until the last possible moment
The tide is up to the slipway, good news for those finishing the Coast to Coast
But I have another four miles or so to Ravenscar, the headland at the left hand end of the picture, where I plan to camp in the old Alum workings
Time for a quick pint in The Laurel and fish and chips from the chippy
It is 3 miles or so to Ravenscar, but I’m calling in at Boggle Hole youth hostel for a cup of tea and a boost to my phone battery
I meet a guy who’s trying to do the Cleveland Way in 5 days his feet are buggered. Also met up with three women walking the Way. I’ve been seeing them over the past two days when they were a group of six. They have 21 miles, as they have to finish tomorrow. They will probably catch me up in Scarborough
The light has almost completely gone by the time I get to Ravenscar and find a suitable spot with some shelter from the north east wind that is promised for tomorrow along with lashings of rain. Can’t wait!
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