Day 4 Scarborough to Sawdon

                  Into each life some rain must fall.
                                               Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And so it did, all day long. The rain and wind had been forecast and for once the forecast was correct, 27mm fell in the Scarborough area on this day. 

I wasn't on this part of the walk so thanks to Jackie Wilkes, Jean Moxon and Stuart Blaylock for providing me with all the details. Rita was supposed to be leading but she and Frank were ill with food poisoning so Ray drew the short straw as he was the only other person who knew where the walk was going. So thanks to Ray for saving the day!

The walk set off from the Corner Cafe in North Bay Scarborough after the coach had negotiated Marine Drive, high tide with a ten foot swell. Very exciting by all accounts. The sea was extremely rough and crashing over the sea wall. The first part of the walk headed north  along the coastal path to Long Nab with the wind and rain blowing in our faces. Soon there was a left turn on the top of the cliffs signposted Helmsley 48 miles and this was the beginning of the Tabular Hills walk. 18 brave souls on the 'B' walk and 2 more on the 'A' walk. I'm not sure what that says about 'A' walkers and 'B' walkers! You can draw your own conclusions.

After turning inland the walking was a bit easier as the wind was behind but it NEVER stopped raining all day.An hour after starting we reached the village of Scalby. Full marks to Ray and Stuart for finding the Scalby Tennis and Bowling Club with its shelter that accommodated us for lunch in the dry. We should thank them too but there was no-one there!

After lunch the walk proceeded along the Sea Cut for a couple of miles, This is a drain that was built some two centuries ago by Sir George Cayley and it carries excess flood water from the River Derwent and channels it out to sea. A good job it was there as there was a flood alert in place for the River Derwent. The last part of the walk was in Wykeham Forest so a little more sheltered but still raining and windy. There were bluebells, primroses and wood sorrell to lift the spirits. It would have been a lovely walk in good weather.

It was forest tracks all the way to Sawdon where the pub was closed but there was no more welcome sight than the coach waiting with its engine running and heating on. An early finish for once and a quick journey home.