This afternoon we had a nice 4 mile walk along Sandsend beach on the North Yorkshire Coast and then on into Whitby . The beach had been raised by about a metre since we were last there and there was a stream cutting through the beach meandering the 100m or so to the sea. We saw an excellent deposition feature of lots of stones and shingle being washed through the beach carried in the river water towards the sea . There is always something interesting ! A very chilled out walk because other than looking at the continuing erosion in the glacial till cliffs it was just very mellow. There were very few people in Whitby and we finished our walk munching super duper fish n chips at Hadleys and then walked the mile back to the car in the dark , home and Star Trek. Nice .

After the birdwatching session yesterday morning / afternoon, with the whole family I went to Leeds so Miles could skate the great Works Skatepark. He had an amazing session and his health has fully returned . Fit as a fiddle! Good doggy! Fo, Clifford and I had a very nice 5 night-time walk out through Leeds City Center and those back streets are quite mysterious and ghostly at night . The 18th century buildings in Leeds are amazing and it is surprising how much good history you can get just reading the information printed on some of the buildings . Umm, can't think what you call those oval information plates pinned to historic buildings but there you go. The new modern buildings look great at night as well. A nice evening time out and great end to a marvellous day particularly the bird watching .

As I have said to many people over the years as a family we don't do holidays as such just days out : lots of them . It can work out more expensive than a holiday and we mostly take our own grub! Around Darlington and within a 50 mile radius we have the North Yorkshire Moors , Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks the first two being only 15 miles away , loads of countryside around us and lots to do. Anyone and everyone : get out walking around the towns, countryside or cities . Good for the mind and the body!