North Allerton, Humber bridge, King's Lynn
Trip Start
May 29, 2008
1
2
9
Trip End
Jun 02, 2008
Narford, England, United Kingdom
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The situation at work and everything associated with it have caused me a great deal of anguish although in many ways it has been an interesting experience. Somewhat like a test of tenacity, stoicism and more generally, my mental health.
However, the stress has been very much exacerbated by the assault on the 30th May.
The second reason for this trip is to see more of England and Wales. Although, I have the privilege of seeing many parts of the United Kingdom, there are a number of parts which remain illusive to me.
For a while now, I have found myself fingering through the pages of my road map and wondering what it would be like to visit some of these places.
My attention has been drawn particularly down towards East Anglia and the south coast of England. Again, I have been through or to some places but not to others.
I sketched out possible routes and studied the map further to see how I could actually do this journey.
As per usual, I made the usual necessary preparations, packed my things away, sorted out the house and loaded up the car. I set off at exactly 9.30am. It was a sunny morning. I was filled with emotions of anxiety, impending doom (a sense of), excitement, relief, faith, trepidation and a sense of compulsion. I could turn back but I really wanted to see this thing through.
I took the A1 down to Scotch Corner and then crossed towards North Allerton. I had always been curious to go there and so I took this as an opportunity! I parked up and simply had a walk up and down the main street.
From there, I headed through Thirsk, up Sutton Bank and onto Malton. On this road, I saw the sign port for Rievaulx Abbey and I took a photo of the surrounding hills. Rievaulx reminded me of my university days as did Malton. I seem to remember Michelle Toal telling me it was a really nice place and it had a bacon factory there!
I got my lunch at Malton and then headed south towards Beverley and the Humber Bridge. Malton had reminded me of Hawes in Cumbria. North Allerton had reminded me of Bishop Auckland. Wow, the Humber Bridge!
I was back in San Francisco again (in my mind of course) and I was equally impressed and stunned by this marvel of engineering.
I took several photographs and went for a while to a viewpoint in Baton on Humber.
From here, I went on to Grimsby, a very Middlesborough looking place and on to Cleethorpes. I parked up by the sea front and went for a walk along the beach.
I could see Spurn Head from the beach as well as a military plane going around in circles; an unusual sight. The sun was scorching and the beach was busy! Amazing how the sun can change the look of a place.
After leaving Cleethorpes, I headed south to Louth and then onto Boston where I stopped to do some shopping and get some petrol.
I then headed around The Wash and into 'Nelson's Country' (Norfolk) for the first time in my life! Wow! King's Lynn was my next stop where I spent just an hour walking around the town centre and the river front. What a very pleasant hour.
I finally stopped around the Ecotech centre as I was very weary and in need of rest.
All in all, a good day thank God. I still have that 'new travel' feel which I hope goes tomorrow or the day after.
I can’t wait to see Norwich and the Norfolk broads tomorrow!
