Whitby, England
She scampered around us like a youngster at play, kicking up spray. She was a youthful lass, proud of her form and knowing full well that she would attract our attention. Her prancing across the waves was both a hello and goodbye, a salute from the Barque Endeavour to our own sleek and adventurous Endeavour. It was little more than a year ago, in this same tiny town in England that we christened our ship. It was more than two hundred years ago (1768) that Captain James Cook sailed from this harbour in a newly outfitted barque bearing the name Endeavour. His expeditions charted a previously unknown world. Today we still follow in his footsteps exploring the far reaches of the globe in search of new experiences. This morning we saw glimpses of the man and his times as we toured the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.
The wind seemed to sense when we boarded Zodiacs for it chose that instant to whip the ocean into a froth. But it didn’t matter for Whitby Harbour is well protected inside two breakwaters and then twin piers. Matching lighthouses blink a greeting to vessels entering after dark. But our day was bright, not sunny but a shadowless light that seemed to accentuate the curving roads of old town. Colorful buildings were cradled within the steep estuary banks, spilling upstream and uphill. Flowers peaked from behind and within stone walls. High above, on the eastern skyline, the spires of Whitby Abbey still stand, impressive even in ruin. Beyond the land flattens and reaches inland to the next river valley. Green fields alternate with golden rape, a patchwork quilt of vegetation.
It was a day for looking backwards, for reflecting not only on the history of this land but on what we had shared in fifteen days together. Our journey is drawing to an end. Suitcases are packed and as our ship slips into the River Thames in the early morning hours we will have traveled 2400 miles together. Each step of the way has been packed with shared memories, the building blocks of friendships.
She scampered around us like a youngster at play, kicking up spray. She was a youthful lass, proud of her form and knowing full well that she would attract our attention. Her prancing across the waves was both a hello and goodbye, a salute from the Barque Endeavour to our own sleek and adventurous Endeavour. It was little more than a year ago, in this same tiny town in England that we christened our ship. It was more than two hundred years ago (1768) that Captain James Cook sailed from this harbour in a newly outfitted barque bearing the name Endeavour. His expeditions charted a previously unknown world. Today we still follow in his footsteps exploring the far reaches of the globe in search of new experiences. This morning we saw glimpses of the man and his times as we toured the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.
The wind seemed to sense when we boarded Zodiacs for it chose that instant to whip the ocean into a froth. But it didn’t matter for Whitby Harbour is well protected inside two breakwaters and then twin piers. Matching lighthouses blink a greeting to vessels entering after dark. But our day was bright, not sunny but a shadowless light that seemed to accentuate the curving roads of old town. Colorful buildings were cradled within the steep estuary banks, spilling upstream and uphill. Flowers peaked from behind and within stone walls. High above, on the eastern skyline, the spires of Whitby Abbey still stand, impressive even in ruin. Beyond the land flattens and reaches inland to the next river valley. Green fields alternate with golden rape, a patchwork quilt of vegetation.
It was a day for looking backwards, for reflecting not only on the history of this land but on what we had shared in fifteen days together. Our journey is drawing to an end. Suitcases are packed and as our ship slips into the River Thames in the early morning hours we will have traveled 2400 miles together. Each step of the way has been packed with shared memories, the building blocks of friendships.
