Whitby, The Home of the Famous Captain Cook

Whitby. I've been to Whitby in North Yorkshire. It was astring of jet from those days.
long time ago when my husband took my pregnantWe climbed to Whitby Abbey, made famous by the
self and my one year old daughter out of the harbourBram Stoker's tales of Dracula and how he arrived on
at Whitby on a sloop that belonged to a friend. Wethese shores. The ruins of the Abbey are impressive
were brave to go because no-one knew much aboutbut empty, but the hundreds of steps to the top are
sailing.well worth the panoramic view of the lovely harbour
We loved Whitby and drove over the moors passingand town. And, of course, Whitby was the home of
Fylingdale and the dooming white globes, the earlythe famous Captain Cook and his two ships,
warning site for a nuclear war and on to the town of'Endeavour' and 'Resolution' would have sailed this
Whitby, with its steep, narrow streets and quaint pokeyharbour.
shops at the side of the River Esk. There had been aI can remember that day as if it were yesterday, well
revival of interest in the whaling ships of the lastwrapped against a gusty wind and keeping my
century at that time and we collected some lastingdaughter strapped to my side. I can remember the
reprints of Victorian photos of the people andlaughter as we set sail along the river and out towards
fishermen off Whitby. Coal went out from there tooto sea. I can remember the sudden attack of nerves
making this quite an important coastal town in thatand sea sickness and pleading to be taken back to the
century. Looking suspiciously like polished coal too wassafety of the harbour. I can remember the fish and
the precious jet formed from local lignite found onchips, the best I've ever had and the relief of a cup of
Whitby beaches: so funereal and so Victorian. I have atea in dry dock.