A-Z Challenge 2018 - British Rivers: 'E' - Esk

The River Esk is Yorkshire's premier salmon and sea trout river, and the only river in Yorkshire to have freshwater pearl mussels. Its 28 mile course flows west to east through the Yorkshire National Park and enters the North Sea at Whitby, the town famous for its connection with Captain Cook and Dracula.

The replica barque Endeavour leaving the Esk into Whitby Harbour.

Road bridge over the Esk in Whitby

We have walked over that bridge many times on the way up to Whitby Abbey,

On the other side of the bridge it's possible to get onto the quayside.

Between 1882 and 1884 a viaduct was constructed across the river to carry a single track railway between Scarborough and Whitby.

Larpool (or Esk Valley) viaduct

The viaduct is mentioned in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, in Mina Murray's Journal, "The little river, the Esk, runs through a deep valley, which broadens out as it comes near the harbour. A great viaduct runs across, with high piers, through which the view seems somehow further away than it really is."

The rail service closed in 1965 and the now Grade II listed viaduct is part of the Scarborough to Whitby Rail Trail, it's also promoted as a cycle track - "Scarborough to Whitby Cinder Track."

We never tire of Whitby and its views but not everyone feels the same when refused entry to the Abbey when they have walked up 199 steps.

No wonder he has emptied the barrel that was tied to us neck.

Photo attribution:

• Larpool Viaduct: * September 2016 by Acsson - CC BY-SA 4.0

Vegetation - Thematic Photography

When I saw this vegetation theme my first thoughts were of what grows in my garden.

Fern

However when I saw the North Yorkshire Moors on our way to Whitby yesterday I knew I had to show sometime a bit wilder.

Less than 20yds from the main road from Teesside you could find yourself up to your neck in in a bracken bank.

Bracken with hedge bindweed (belibine) flowers

I wish now that I had some close-ups of the flowers of the bindweed which. in gardens, is regarded as a pest.

More bracken and a single plant of Indian balsam (pink)

The Indian balsam is another invasive species.

But the view that I found best included the plant that gives the open moor its purple colour at this time of year.

Purple heather

Ferns with heather in the background

Although there was vegetation visible at the top of the cliffs below Whitby Abbey

Whitby Abbey (viewed from afar)

it was this shot that got to me.

Birds of a feather (a week too late)

They would be more interested in fish than vegetation.

Don't let that stop you however, checking out the vegetation on view at Carmi's Thematic-photographic-308.

Strangers in our midst - Thematic Photography

On a day trip to Whitby in Yorkshire, North East England you are bound to meet many people who are strangers to you.

Strangers on the beach at Whitby

For pier aficionados there are hundreds at one time.

Strangers on the pier

Should you climb the 199 steps to see Whitby Abbey of Dracula fame you will find other strangers following you.

Strangers on the way up.

And if you look closely in the background you can see more on their way along the pier.

At the Abbey entrance we can only see a stranger's legs and two legs on

A patient Saint Bernard

To get acquainted with other strangers you need to cross over to Carmi at Thematic-photographic-261.