Heavy Plant Crossing

 Does the title of today’s blog make you laugh as much as it did me? Of course the intention is that heavy machinery could be crossing the road but I can just imagine a heavy plant crossing. The signs here continue to bring joy to our hearts and smiles to our faces. We saw the beloved Elderly Crossing sign again. We passed by a large building called Generous George, a family-friendly pub and restaurant (making us think of our dear friend, George) and then another sign called “Super Brad’s Pad”—a luxury holiday home providing a haven of hope for sick children and their families, currently being constructed here by a foundation. 

We just can’t seem to get our English pronunciation down correctly. Grandma Mary we need you!! We are now in Lanchester (which to my mind rhymes with Manchester). At breakfast this morning, when the hotel owner asked where we were heading today and I said Lanchester, he said, “You mean Lancaster.” I corrected him saying, “No, I mean “Lanchester.” And he, with great humour, smiled, and said, “Actually, we say it kind of funny down here so if you want anyone to know where you’re going— you’d best say Lancaster.” 

Our stay in the seaside town Scarborough wasn’t quite what we’d hoped due to the weather. Today it started out rainy and extremely cold and then the winds started. But by about 1:00 pm the sun started shining for the rest of the day but the darn wind hung around. Three jackets, a hat, gloves, a rain hood pulled tightly seems to be our standard fair. Doesn’t exactly make for attractive pictures. 👀

We drove through the other seaside town of Whitby which is charming. We continued our drive through the North York Moors National Park with its gorgeous views, windy roads, and some inclines and declines but it wasn’t as bad as roads driven in years past. When we reached the town of Staithes we stopped and visited for a few hours. It’s another scenic village on the North Sea but this place has a history that focuses on artists. They gathered here historically to share and learn their arts and the tradition continues to this day. Less busy than both Scarborough and Whitby it was nice to pass time in this quaint little village. There are several craft shops and galleries located along the steep and narrow, winding streets. Many of the little homes have unique and colourful exteriors and signs above their doorways. And a couple of the homes had spectacular front gardens. I don’t know how they get these plants and shrubs to bloom so early with all of the cold weather. 

Amazing flowers in such cool temperatures.

The Staithes harbour. Pretty small by our standards. 

Children determined to play in the sand, regardless of the weather. 

This is the surgery.

The Staithes harbour.
We saw several freighters way out in the sea that weren’t moving. A gallery owner shared that sometimes they stay out there a long time, depending on what product they are carrying, in hopes the price will rise and then they’ll bring it in to port. 

The architectural preservation and careful restorations that take place in the U.K. are admirable. We visited an old Station House today that brings David back to memories of his old roots. It’s amazing what can be done from a design perspective to convert the uses of these historic buildings. The platform that greets the current day guests has been transformed into a beautiful and modern landscaped outdoor seating area for guests to take in nature and relax. A far cry from the plain and staid wooden platform that welcomed train passengers in its hey-day. The Station House we visited has been converted into a bed and breakfast and a small self-catering cottage. The place is definitely an update from David’s days of exerting big brother privileges by pushing his little brother up the scary staircase to check things out first. There were no heavy plants crossing in this neighbourhood. My mind is conjuring heavy tropical plants leaning downwards dragging themselves across a street. Or maybe I’ve just been on the road too long.