A RAY LONSDALE DAY

Up and about early this morning as I had to get to Gateshead by 9.30am - today was the day of my fitness group's day trip to Scarborough.  We set off around 9.45 am and arrived in Scarborough around 12 noon.

First of all I sat near the harbour to eat my packed lunch.  Then I had a 99 ice cream cornet.  Then I set off to find the first of three Ray Lonsdale sculptures.  Blip friend riversider had kindly provided me with directions.

I found The Tunny first.  A work in silver with a plaque that reads:-

" Big fish, little boat, just a rod, a line, a man.

The days when the Tunny were here in the sea not just in a ringpull can"

My photo is in the collage in my Extras.

Then a 30 min walk from South Bay to North Bay to find Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers. This sculpture is based on a retired miner who was one of the first soldiers to relieve the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the end of World War II.

This piece of art is not just about Freddie Gilroy but represents all the normal people that were pulled out of an ordinary life and forced into a very extraordinary and dangerous one during the World Wars. This sculpture is my main blip shot.

Just before I took my photo a little girl had placed a painted rock on the sculpture and left it there. You can see it in my Extra collage - its a penguin,  It had a message on asking the finder to post a photo on the Happy Rocks Facebook page ( which I have done ) and then place the rock in a new place ( which I'm going to do ).

Also in the same collage are views of the harbour and the Castle

Then I walked back to North Bay to search for the third sculpture.  On the way I had another ice cream cornet - salted caramel this time.

Hidden away in the back streets is the sculpture called  Smugglers Apprentice. Photo in my Extra collage.

After completing my mission to find the three Ray Lonsdales I had a wander around the seafront.  Popped into the John Bull shop to buy fudge and Scarborough rock and then had another 99 cornet.  By this time it was 4pm and time to get the coach home.

The obvious choice for a musical link .............. SCARBOROUGH FAIR

I enjoyed Scarborough but 4 hrs wasn't enough time to see everything so I think I may go back again sometime and possibly stay for a couple of days.

The weather today was warm, dry and sunny  - but very windy.

Steps today - 17,115