Lazy morning and steamy walk

Pickering-bound train

So this morning we decided to take it easy - it was forecast rain (it didn't) but also with illness and tiredness and the fact we are on holiday, we needed a quiet morning.  I was despatched to Lidl to get some pastries (pain au raisin, pain au chocolat, goats' cheese foccacia - can you guess whose is whose?!), we ate them and then settled down to a couple more instalments of Famous Five, those pesky kids caught criminals the police had been trying to hunt down for years - how do they do it?!

Then a game of Rummikub which Matt won by not being able to start for absolutely ages and then when he did, he got out instantly - hummmm!  We then went for a wander around the town and did some shopping before enjoying lunch in one of the tea rooms (sandwich for the boy, crumpet stack of smoked salmon and cream cheese for Matt and soup with a cheese scone for me).

Heading back to Whitby

We then headed off on a walk.  We were going to explore Pickering Castle but we aren't members of English Heritage and having already paid an entrance fee to them to see Whitby Abbey we decided to give it a miss, so we walked past and then found a footpath alongside the railway.  The walk took us mainly through woodland, which was very lovely once the sun came out - lots of autumnal leaves, shining in the sunshine.

Waiting for the train

Mainly though the walk was memorable for the number of pheasants we saw.  The place was literally crawling with them, never seen so many of them in one place before.  No wonder there is a gun shop in town!  We managed to time our walk very well and saw 3 steam trains at close quarters.  It almost felt like we were in an episode of Railway Children as there was very little around to remind you it was 2018 (except our clothing).  We had to cross the railway 3 times, each time on foot.

We arrived back in Pickering in time for tea and a bun (well it had been a 5.5mile walk).  Matt and I went for Yorkshire Brack, whilst Tom hoovered down a huge piece of chocolate cake!

Then back to the cottage, showers for each of us (it was muddy on the walk) and then some more Famous Five and mulled wine before heading for tea - this time in a pub and very nice it was too: a HUGE adult's fish and chips for Tom (where does he put it?), mushroom risotto for me and belly pork etc for Matt.  We were all happy bunnies and the waitress couldn't believe that Tom demolished his fish and chips.

Then back home and bed for Tom.  Matt is feeling much better today after a good night's sleep.  Better than me anyway - I kept whacking my head on the bedside cabinet - durrrrrr!