Day 70 Thurs 19 May: Fond farewells to Whitby and the grand crew after a good night’s sleep in an impressive modern boathouse. Holding pride of place in the centre of the town on the old fish quay, it is certainly no eyesore. On the contrary. With it’s historic and continuing importance, Whitby Lifeboat Station is held dear to the heart of the community. Many thanks for so much help from so many crew members, including Mike (cox’n)and Keith (LOM) for trusting me with the care and use of your immaculate Lifeboat Station, Jonathan/’Bod’ for lending me your high pressure pump, Dave for donating a mini hp pump to the cause and Mark (relief duty mech from Humber) for the telephone introduction to your own Station at the far end of this huge county, sowing the seed for what might just turn out to be a most memorable visit tomorrow …
The next credits go to the fine, distinguished gents who met me at Scarborough. John (retired crew), Colin (chairman) and Mark (crew, proprietor of the excellent cafe opposite the temporary LBStn. Thanks for the great welcome, full tour and generous lunch treat. Good luck with the new Station and boat due later this year. Interesting to hear how Billy Butlin historically invested much of his wealth in the Scarborough community, including the local Lifeboat. Good to see the project well under way.
On to Filey, the next resort along this fine and busy Yorkshire Coast, where the carriage-launched ALB will, one day in the not too distant future, be retired and replaced with a smaller, quicker, more appropriate B Class Atlantic 85. Thanks Ian (Ast Mech) and Barry (Cox’n). Great to meet you. Another sad farewell to a fine old Mersey. Good luck with the new boat when it arrives.
One more Station to visit before moving on to the eventual destination of the day at Bridlington. The neighbouring ILB Station at Flamborough. A front brake-warming drop down to the South side of this well known peninsula, where the more remote boat house is sheltered by sandy cliffs above a steep slipway. Thank you Les (DLA/Cox’n ret.) Harry (Station Sec.) for meeting me. Although a relatively quiet outpost, the lure of the dramatic and dangerous Flamborough Head still demands occasional assistance from this Inshore lifeboat. Thier biggest challenge is finding enough volunteer crew members in a relatively remote location.
And so, as the temperature drops, the light fades and the rain returns, on to Bridlington. Not too far. Just as well. A hollow rumbling and fading power output. Fuel gauge approaching the red zone.
rnli coastal cycle ride 