.Setting off for Grimsby didn't happen today. The northerly winds remain pretty strong and whilst they would take me in the right direction, the accompanying swell would be a bit too much. The owner of the Centurion 32 has his home port in Grimsby and he didn't set off either. It's all so much better out there when there are offshore winds he says. The tide was well out this morning allowing a good photo of those suspended pontoons.It must be an East coast thing
Its been a nice sunny day though, so Iwent for a walk along the Esplanade to see the old spa building. Its obviously a listed building and European money has been spent on it recently to restore it. When the notice board says works due to be completed in 2007, its either time to take the board down or sack the contractors.
Malcolm Baldwin has emailed me to say Scarborough is the poor man's Brighton, and I can see what he means. It purports to be the first bathing resort, though Brighton might contest that. The bathing huts are pretty solid buildings and cost £25 a day to rent.The prices aren't aimed at the poor with either the beach huts or mooring fees!
Someone seems to have slung a sculpture from the Spa bridge since I was there yesterday.It seems to be made from old plastic containers.
The only formal external public art I came across were these two statues aimed at depicting bathers-ancient and modern.I will see whether Brighton has more to offer when I eventually get down there.
The current Scarborough Borough Council obviously aren't into public art. They even have it in for the local sand artist who has a notice next to his work saying they wanted £2,000 a year for his pitch!
The Esplanade affords some great views of the bay. Surfers were making the most of the waves created by the North easterlies and some intrepid folk were in the water. I have still not been for a swim on this trip, which is unthinkable for me.
I was going to have a coffee in the cafe under the bridge again, but they have no toilets and the adjacent Rotunda Museum wanted to charge me a £1 to use theirs. I wandered into the Grand Hotel instead, which gave me an opportunity to see the splendid central staircase, which is the main interest inside. The toilets weren't very "grand" at all, as they seemed to have been stuffed into a cupboard next to the back stairs.
The best coffee stop goes to this place though , which makes its own chocolate and serves a bit free with the coffee.Plus it has a great view of the harbour.
After lunch i walked up to Scarborough Castle.It stands on the headland above the town and has to be the largest castellated site I've been to. There has been occupation there since the Bronze age. The Romans used it to erect one of their watch towers, which contained a brazier and narrow windows which they used to cover and open to send early morse messages. The site was in its heyday in medeavel times though and was regularly occupied by various kings.
The castle was occupied by royalist forces in the civil war in order to prevent the coal ships from making their way down the east coast to London. Cromwell's troops successfully got them to surrender after they had blown a hole in the keep.
The Germans had a go at destroying the place too. In the First world war the town and castle was attacked by warships. They did so mach damage to the grounds of the castle that it resulted in the start of the clearing of the site and an archaeological survey.
Sitting here in the early evening sunshin,e the wind is slackening. The strong gusts which have blown through the harbour have ceased. Unfortunately, I think it is going to move into the south west soon.That may not slow me up tomorrow, but may do later.
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