Friday

The weekend begins slowly (OK, stationary!) on the A1(M)

During the traditional music quiz, who should pop-up but our very own Stevie B!

The eventual winner of the quiz was, for a change, Simon

Another tradition, when in these parts, is to stop in Pickering for a pint - so we did, as Simon's selfie shows

(Photo courtesy of Simon Piercy)

The Place

The Cottage

The building opposite is very convenient for Ladies and Gentlemen

Saturday

(Mapping courtesy of Simon Piercy)

At breakfast, Steve experiments with his chocolate bacon sausage sandwich

Early on in the walk, Tim takes a wrong turn and leads us on a folly ... but at least we saw some nice nature

That's expecting a bit much of the dogs!

Tour de Yorkshire

Sunny Yorkshire solar panels

Pete & Steve "check out the middle" - apparently, it was a sticky wicket

Dew-covered buds

If you don't scoop the poop, then they recoup the loot

Wise words ...

Comically-wrapped, cylindrical hay bales (including human, for scale)

... and here's what they look like 'naked'

Just an abandoned old bath tub? No, actually one of quite a few animal water troughs, complete with water pipe and ballcock

Spring has sprung

Time to cross the railway

Dave was told to Stop and Look but he wasn't Listening

Crikey - if you forget to scoop the poop and then you leave the gate open, you're in for 2Gs!

Ground level

Apparently, this tree would puzzle a monkey

Dave happens upon another of his family enterprises

We couldn't get Pete to go in, though ...

Suspension bridge

The original plan was to walk to Whitby and get the train but, thanks to a lovely late breakfast and the slight detour, we decide to catch it one stop nearer - Ruswarp Station

Six singles to Grosmont, please

Grosmont Station

This plaque made Simon, Dave & Charlie cringe (grammar geeks) - not only does it have three sentences beginning with a conjuntion but also a dreaded rogue possessive apostrophe! (The content is quite interesting, though.)

Bridge repairs

Ford depth gauge - cross if you dare

Pete's "big, special ducks" (geese, to everyone else)

Fordson tractor collection (and there were more round the corner)

We stop for lunch at, what looks like, a victim of 'Storm Doris'

Piercy Pot Noodle Pic

Steve helps a young lady on her horse get through the gate

Homeward bound ...

Tomorrow evening's meal destination

Pupils' desks - complete with ... inkwells (see what they did, there?)

The Usual Suspects

Another cracking night in The Plough - lovely food, including perfect chips

... and NOT like this ...

Sunday

(Mapping courtesy of Simon Piercy)

Unfortunately, a suspected bit of bad beef in his lasagne incapacitated Tim "Bad Beef" Spate and he didn't make it out of the cottage. Fortunately for the rest of us, "Bad Beef" had planned a walk around Sleights Moor and so Charlie took the map & compass and lead the way .. beginning with a steep climb up Blue Bank

The frogs have spawned

Quarry (dis-used)

Another "What is it?" moment ...

Builders' tea break

Negotiating the steep drop

Cows and calves

Lunch at the bottom of a quarried cliff

.. and then off to find a line of pylons to lead us home

"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones ..."

Whitby bathed in sunshine

Off-roaders

Then back down Blue Bank

Be warned ...

Pete had to get away so Steve accompanied him to the chip shop to get an early meal. Then later, after Pete had said his farewells, we all went and had 'sit-in-the-cafe' fish & chips.

Monday

We still had plenty of breakfast meat left, so Steve kindly cooked it for us all

Visitors Book

And finally ... Caption Competition Time - email your entries