Day 12: To Leeds and London

We awoke to the sounds of gulls and tractors pulling fishing boats full of lobster traps across the rocky foreshore. The view was magnificent for about 30 minutes when a thick mist rolled in that no amount of sun could fully burn off for hours.

We watched the headland disappear, reappear then disappear again before heading down to our final breakfast together.

The chef seemed quite put out that we didn’t want a full English breakfast but deigned to make our boring poached eggs and toast. The fellow traveller at the next table was over from the Netherlands on a research trip into poisonous plants and said she wasn’t sure what she’d ordered and when it came included a massive smoked fish. Perhaps we should have opted for that after all.

After breakfast we hauled ourselves back up the steep road we’d come down and retrieved our luggage from the Victoria Hotel at the top of town then made our way to the bus stop.

Originally Heather’s plan was to spend a night with me in Leeds before flying home tomorrow but unfortunately due to heat advisories it seems all cross country trains are cancelled for tomorrow so instead she’ll get the last train out of Leeds to London this evening.

Having heard there are often queues for the bus, and the many transport cancellations we were delighted to make it into the first bus for Scarborough with a few of our walking companions: Jeremy, Janice and Martin who had indeed snuck by us yesterday afternoon.

A quick transfer to the train in Scarborough had us into Leeds within 90 minutes, a couple of hours too early to check into my lodgings so we popped into the bar next door for a cold drink and brie pizza.

Luckily we met a fellow walker on the train (Robin) who was heading home to Leeds and gave us some great tips for things to do in a single afternoon. These included an excellent 1700s pub with this amazing toilet! #thanksRobinFromLeeds

Strolling around the neighbourhood we discovered multiple arcades, markets and Victorian buildings with architecture reminiscent of Melbourne.

After a quick repack of bags we trundle down to the station again and said our goodbyes so Heather can make it back to London tonight and her flight home tomorrow.

😭