Whitby and the Steam Engines from Tom

Tom is writing today's blog ... here goes nothing ...
OK so I'm not the writer Terri is but after I had such a fabulous day she suggested I do the writing.
The day actually begin with planning late last night.Since we're still getting use to the time difference we don't get to bed until 1 am. Terri had heard that the steam train through the northern England moors(think of moors as foggy marshes as in Sherlock Holmes' Hound of the Baskervilles movie) wasn't running until April 2. Surprise surprise last night when we discovered a small railway station in Pickering that housed a steam train(think Petticoat Junction TV series) that journeyed all the way to the northeastern coast! We were thrilled but didn't know what to expect. Got up at 8 and after a breakfast of porridge(oatmeal) coffee, OJ, fried eggs, bacon(= crispy ham here), and toast(delivered in those cute toast holders that England has) we got in our Hertz black "gangsta" Mercedes and drove the 26 miles to Pickering. After driving down the quaint shop filled main street we turned the corner to find an ancient train depot.Got out and went to the ticker window(bars and all) where a delightful lady assured us that yes the train was running(since March 27) .After exchanging the 21 pounds for the round trip price for the three of use Terri and Angela retreated to the combination tea room/gift shop while I parked the car in the North Yorkshre Moor Railway lot. Angela had a scone while Terri had the scrumptuous potato leek soup(other choice carrot-parsnip...yikes!) and roll with a Sprite. We bought some postcards then at ten to noon the air was punctuated by a shrill steam whistle(thought I was watching Von Ryans Express) announcing it was time to board.
Each antique rail car had multiple individual berths big enough for 4 passengers complete with upholstered seats,wood paneling and a window that opened(with the usual warning that sticking your head out when passing another train wasn't a good idea). As the conductor yelled all aboard and we started to roll(chugga chugga) we were SOOO excited!The scenery including fir forests, hills dotted with sheep,farms divided by centuries old moss covered walls, along with periodic stops in tiny English villages was a treat to behold. After 88 minutes(these trains are prompt) we arrived in beautful Witby a seaport on the NE edge of England near the Scottish border. Borrowing my brother Mikes suggestion I asked a local where a good place to have lunch was and we were directed over a bridge and down multiple streets to the hilltop and oceanfront Duke of York pub which as we discovered had tables with commanding views of the sea. I swear one beefy patron nursing a beer with his ruddy face,black cap and turtle neck black sweater looked every bit like a vintage Old England fishing boat captain.

In pubs you order your food from the bar then they bring it to you.Terri got fish and chips(fries), I got a hot beef sandwich and Angela got lasagna. The pint of Stella beer on tap washed things down quite well for me too I might add! After lunch I left Terri and Ang with their books in the pub while I journeyed up 199 (yes they advertise the number) steps up to the ruins of a > 1000 year old abbey located high on a windswept cliff overlooking the town. After catching my breath at the top my eyes were awestruck by the view from that height. I will never forget standing there alone while the wind whipped at my jacket on that gray drizzly day while I gazed at the town below and even beyond at the ocean pounding at the shore. I became even more speechless as I turned around and walked amidst the roofless abbey structure which was as big as the Gonda AND Mayo building combined. As I rubbed my hands over the stones it blew my mind that the structure was as old as it was. It was really a time in my life that I will never forget...really.

After our 3 hour layover ended we returned to the depot and boarded our train home. Aside from getting lost in York on our way home it was a delightful day as you can see by the pictures. Tomorrow we journey to Ireland to see what beauty awaits us there. Good bye England. It was fun to see ya!
Chat more tomorrow!
Tommy(note the new hat)