Welcome back, laddies and lasses! After a night of little rest, we begrudgingly woke up early to depart York at 8:15 and embarked upon our first day trip.
We left York via bus and rode to Pickering, at which point we boarded the train that would transport us the rest of the way to Whitby. To our enjoyment, we learned one station along the way in Goathland was the film site of the first two Harry Potter films and an action-packed scene with Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. The rest of the way, we caught up on sleep and wrangled through several rounds of the word game “Contact.” Arriving in Whitby, our fantasy tour continued as we stepped off the train and traveled to Whitby Abbey, where we heard tales about Dracula, Bram Stoker, and James Cook, important figures in Whitby’s storied history. Around the ruins, we were reminded of the landscape of America’s breadbasket, with its rolling hills, green pastures, and varied livestock, minus the cornfields.
Following our excursion at Whitby Abbey, we split up and headed into town on a steep and uneven cobblestone path. Two groups walked around the pier and took in the sights (including a massive 180-pound dog) before stopping for some fish and chips. Gavin, Jaden, and Nick, meanwhile, took a precarious dip in the sea, braving frigid temperatures and a biting wind. After spending some time in the town, we met back up at the bus and began our journey back to York.
Along the way, we survived the rain for a quick stop in the quaint town of Helmsley. After gathering candy from the town’s “traditional sweets shop”, scones from the butcher’s, and deluxe chocolate brownies, we made our way back to the bus for the final leg of our journey. During the journey, our tour guide told us about the history of the moor’s landscapes that we passed. At last we made it back to York and roamed the campus (including a hedgehog search and yoga session) until it was time for dinner. Those who were still hungry feasted on chili and rice with a dessert of coconut-topped chocolate pies.
Toodle pip,
Alex and David