Wednesday 23rd February 2011 - C2C Road Trip, Day 4 - Blakey Ridge to Robin Hoods Bay

Another cooked breakfast was enjoyed before we departed the Lion Inn on the Wednesday morning. It was still very foggy up on Blakey Ridge, and care was taken in nursing the car down to a lower altitude. While on Rosedale Moor, the car radio locked onto KCFM 99.8, a community radio station from Hull.  We drove down to the interesting village of Glaisdale, and its interesting arrangement of houses, shops, viaduct and fords. But then the route out of it was closed - and I had to find an alternative way to the next and final stop of Robin Hood's Bay.

   

I parked in a side road opposite the main car park up out of the village. Only later did I see the sign that declared that this car park was free in winter months anyway! Liam and I began by walking about quarter of a mile the "wrong way" up the C2C / Cleveland Way path around the cliff edges, before turning back to walk the route to the finishing line in Robin Hood's Bay.

   

We worked our way down the steep narrow main street, but were disappointed not to find the sea lapping the tarmac at the bottom of the street. Unlike our last visit, the tide was way out. Liam and I found a suitable pool on the beach in which to deposit our pebbles carried in our coat pockets from St Bees.

   

The next port of call was the Bay Hotel at the bottom of the village for a pint, a bowl of vegetable soup and thirty minutes reflection on the journey. Finally, was the steep climb out of the village, although this time we explored some of the walkways between the houses, leading out onto the town park with great views across the bay. Back in the car, and the journey home commenced, in the direction of Pickering.

   

I then followed the signs for Malton, Norton, Fimber and Fridaythorpe, and this took me onto my final target of the A166 which runs straight across Bishop Wilton Wold G/TW-004. I parked in the big lay-by adjacent to the covered reservoir and summit trig point. A short walk along the grass verge led me to the point where I decided to set up, and again it was the 40m dipole that was deployed. 33 QSOs in 23 minutes was my reward on 7.031MHz CW. This was a pleasing end to the amateur radio activity on the road trip. Many thanks to all callers.

A few more broadcast stations of note were logged on the journey home. These were Vixen 101, on 101.8 (Humberside?), Tempo FM on 107.4 (Worksop?), Radio Asian Fever 107.3 (Leeds), Phoenix FM 96.7 (Bradford/Halifax) and a strange silent carrier on 90.4 in the Leeds area, carrying RDS ident: RF_LEEDS

       

Arriving in Macc at 9pm, Liam and I went directly to the Weston Balti for a late tea. Jimmy accepted an invitation by text to meet me there for a beer, and he walked up to the restaurant from home to join us.  Overall a pleasing trip.  A trip with a difference, because it was designed and shaped by Liam!