GRUMPY SISTERS' INK

Wednesday dawned a little cloudy with rain threatening. Undaunted as us grumpy sister's are, we packed our bags and made off early to catch the bus to Scarborough. Ten we had to catch another bus to Robin Hood's Bay. This is quite a well known village, as it has a very steep street, with the houses all higgeldy piggeldy around the street, some houses very narrow and some squashed in almost impossible places. The houses tumble right to the sea, the there is a short ramp to the beach. We began our walk in the beach as the tide was low. The area is well known for jet, fossilised monkey puzzle tree of all things and many shops sport the jewellery made with this shiny black stone. We didn't tarry too long, and stepping carefully over rocks we reached Boggle Hole, the site of a grain mill which is now the Youth Hostel. The way up to the coast paths was very up, with many pauses for puffing, but we made the top to enjoy great views. The path took us along and down again to the beach and then another long up to put us back on the cliff top. The weather was blowy with occasional sun, but everything looked good, even the steeply rising cliff which was Ravenscar, our destination. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenscar,_North_Yorkshire We passed a house where loud barking was going on, and several bloodhounds leapt against the fence in an effort to smell our socks. Luckily the fence was about 8 foot high so we escaped, socks intact. Slowly rising up, the path met the ruins of the alum works. For those of you who are interested, now follows a little history lesson. This now peaceful spot was once home to one of Britain’s earliest chemical industries from 1650 to 1862. A chemical called alum, essential to ‘fix’ and brighten dyes in textiles, was made here from locally-mined shale from the nearby cliffs. The works here were virtually unique in producing alum in Britain. The process was a closely-guarded secret and provided jobs for hundreds of workers and their families. Producing alum was a long process that could take up to a year. Shale was piled into huge bonfires that smouldered for nine months before being steeped in water to produce alum liquor. At the works this was repeatedly heated and cooled to make the crystals used in the textiles industry. One of the key ingredients in alum-making was ammonia. For this they used human urine, often collected by children from local families who would leave a jar out on their doorstep. http://www.exnet.com/1995/12/18/science/science.html. A humorous look at the chemical history of alum. Then, with much girding of loins, we tackled the final ascent to Ravenscar. We managed it without the aid of oxygen, and even our sticks were redundant,, as we scaled the highest point on the coast! Ravenscar has an interesting history and Raven Hall, perched on the cliff looked foreboding, is now a friendly hotel. Up to the top, yet, it was another 600 metres to the cup of tea!!!! Would we make it! We became daunted as we approached the cafe, sun blistered and faded signs were out on the footpath, would this be a 'dive'? As we turned the corner, we were met by a cheerful, bright cafe frontage, bustling with people and upon entering we were greeted effusively. We had a great lunch, and duly refreshed, we embarked on our journey back to Robin Hood's bay along the Cinder Track. Well, we could see the track but not how to get down to it. Never fear, we made made a cross country detour and got there. From 1885 until its closure in 1965 the old railway line from Scarborough to Whitby took goods and passengers up and down the North Yorkshire coast. Now it's an off road route through the North York Moors National Park for walkers, horse riders and cyclists. The good thing about railway walks is that they are relatively flat, just simple gentle inclines. There were several bridges on the way too, and great expanses of views. We got to Robin Hoods Bay, and made our way to the bus stop. An elderly e gentleman was sitting on the wall, bemoaning the fact that the bus he wanted to catch no ever turned up, and the next one was late. The large number of people waiting for the bus onthe opposite side of the road was a bit suspicious too. however, a bus came careening around the corner that would bear us to Scarborough and we duly helped the old bloke in(he had seized up with the waiting) and in to the bus and got on ourselves. The bus was having a terrible job getting up the hills and a little way into the journey stopped completely, with water pouring out of the engine. The driver leaped out and so did most of the passengers. He tried in vain to get another buses, info priming us that there had been 8 breakdowns that day and the cut backs meant that the mechanic had to come from Redcar instead if nearby Whitby. Luckily the bowling captain from the local bowls club came along and opened the hall so we could avail ourselves of the facilities. All the passengers got chatting, passing the time of day, generally in good spirits. The driver was telling us about the mechanic and also that the bus we had been on was the best in the fleet and usually sped up the hill while the other buses were 'tartuses'. MMMmmmm you think, what is one of those, just as I did, and realising in a nano second that he was saying 'tortoises'!! - referring to their slowness. Then a bus came along, and as it belonged to another company, the driver would only let bus pass holders on. Man beside me says.......you'll have to get on, you must have a bus pass seeing as you're older'......the cheek if it. (We don't have bus passes because we are visitors). Didn't get on that bus bus did make the next one, and we were soon in Scarborough, but had to wait half an hour for the next bus to Pickering. It had been a long day by the time we put our feet up. .