After locking out of Hartlepool Harbour marina we crossed the busy Tees Estuary with the sprawling industrial expanse of Teeside. We actually had a breeze on the beam all the way, so once clear of the Tees the engines went silent. There was very little of interest all the way. There was a fairly new looking mine working at the top of the cliffs. With very few if any coal mines still working I looked it up.It was the ICL Boulby mine. The only mine in the world mining Polyhalyte, a new organic fertiliser from deep under the North sea.
We continued on to Whitby arriving on a rising tide with just about enough water to get our boats in. The swing bridge to reach the marina only opens on the hour and half hour, 2hours before to 2 hours after HW, so we had about 1 1/2 wait until the 19.00 opening. Ther’s a waiting pontoon with enough space for one boat so we rafted on there.
There was a vertical ladder up the quay and when I reached the top, my illusions of Whitby were shattered. I came face to face with a street of amusement arcades and fast food shops, plus throngs of tourists. I went back down the ladder to wait on the boat and watched the Pirate ships in and out of the harbour full of tourists. The rowing club set off in a number of boats each with 4 rowers and a cox. After a while one boat appeared with 4 young ladies rowing like mad. Some considerable time later the 2nd came into sight. The 4 girls had completely destroyed the oposition. Whilst there the harbour master came and introduced himself and brought down registration forms for us to complete.
19.00 came and we passed through the swing bridge and on to the marina. The harbour master was there waiting for us to point us to the berth that he wanted us to raft up on, and assisted taking our lines. He collected our forms and handed over our security fobs to access the facilities and get back on the pontoon.
After going ashore we found the river divided two very different parts of the town. The North bank was very touristy whilst the South was the old town with narrow streets and very picture post card Whitby.
Next morning I climbed the long worn steps to the Abbey and church with its very old grave stones that inspired Bram Stokers to write Dracula. The Abbey itself is National Trust and didnt open until 10.00. The last bridge opening was scheduled for 10.45, so viewing from outside the high surrounding wall was all I could do.
