The Beast of the East

Difficult to imagine that this time last week I was tootling around on a Monday morning only to get up on Wednesday to discover snow had not only fallen but had cut off our village.

This was the normally busy road leaving the village and heading towards Loftus.
The large white mound in the distance was a 10 foot snowdrift.

Heading in the opposite direction towards the Moor Road was just as bad.

This milk tanker was blocking the road - left for 3 days. It was only yesterday, Sunday before it was moved. Endless milk had to be destroyed.

Bing enjoyed the walk but we were careful to clean his paws well on return.

Snow in the village.

I usually go to the beach every morning, weather permitting with Bing and Sadie. Bing is currently under strict orders from the vet, to take it easy. This is due to an incident on Boxing Day. We were on the beach and Bing was doing what he does best, chasing after his favourite ball. He was so focussed on the ball he collided with a little whippet. The clash sent him to the ground with screams of pain. He got up and walked okay but in the following days he would yelp if he moved his leg in a certain way. We took him to the vet and after a thorough examination was prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets. These finish today but tomorrow will be gentle walk - just round the garden....slowly building up to longer walks. I have been taking Sadie to the beach but following last night's snow I decided to take her up Handale Lane...she loved it.

 

 

It's snowing! Edited for Kath!

  Scenes from our village.

The Churchyard

St. Michael's Church

Handale Lane

Moorsholm Lane

The view from our drive

Ronnie's sheep

 

and the little fella gets shown the garden pond by Freida!

 

Not as clear as these were taken on my phone.

Off for his second vaccination at 4pm - well we are setting off at 4. We have to drive (well Jon does) over the moor road!

Whether the Weather!

Whether the weather be fine,

Or whether the weather be not,

Whether the weather be cold,

Or whether the weather be hot,

We'll weather the weather

Whatever the weather,

Whether we like it or not!

As we have had some lovely weather this week  I decided it was time to swap our winter duvet for our summer one........how wrong could I have been!

This morning the weather deteriorated and the snow started falling - then laying!

We tootled over the Moors to Jill and Phil's for a cuppa.

Home via Whitby and the inevitable fish and chips!

Did you see snow?

Thawing?

Last night, from the various sounds coming from the roof, it would seem we are in for a thaw. The weather forecasts have been very accurate so far so it is with a heavy heart I read that we are due for another dose of snow next week.

We live just off the A171 Whitby coast road and it has certainly been in the news this week, in particular on Tuesday. Jon and I had to go to Guisborough and as we set out it started to snow - nothing drastic - just a steady even fluttering.

We weren't long in Guisborough and coming home the snow started to lay thicker and heavier. Now the A171 is an unforgiving road with many blind bends and hidden summits. It is important not to brake unecessarlily as this can lead to skidding and there are many ditches along the side.

One of the dangers on the moor road is drifting snow. One minute you are looking at white fields on either side of the road - the next the wind carries the snow across the road which suddenly is not visible and you are surrounded by a vast whiteness - yet you know the ditches are there!

As we use the road daily we are aware of the many blackspots - so as we left Birk Brow and headed down the sloping road the car in front was indicating left. The car began to turn left, then changed its mind and reversed back onto the main road, straight into our path. Now this junction is a notorious black spot - indeed it claimed the life of our neighbour some years ago and I always think of Peter everytime I pass.
Jon was driving and by his quick thinking swerved round the car and carried on. Fortunately nothing was coming toward us!

The snow was pelting down by this time and as cars in front of us drove cautiously towards Whitby we eventually turned left towards our village. The road was barely visible but we managed to get to Jon's workshop and on the way home came across a vehicle which could not get over the brow of a slight hill in the road. It was still snowing heavily but Jon stopped and towed the car over the brow and onto a part of the road where the driver could carry on. Would you believe we knew the driver? His dad was our best man! lol!

Shortly afterwards the roads were closed. Mayhem! There had been various accidents and incidents. If we had been any later we too would have been stranded for a few hours.
Our location leaves us with two routes - the moor road and the coast road. The coast road involves saltburn bank - to give you an idea of the adverse conditions we have had to dope with here is a video of Saltburn Bank taken last week. The coach driver now has his own following!

View from the Kitchen Window

Just as I was about to sit at the kitchen table I had the feeling I was being watched! Fortunately my camera was on the table so I tried to capture the moment as best I could.

Although there seems to be signs of thawing the snow is still here. Hens continue to stay in the henhouse and we are all quite happy to remain indoors. However, Freida needed her walk and so we ventured up the lane to feed the horses. The village was so quiet!

As we came up our drive there was lots of activity across the front lawn.

The icicles just outside the window are now beginning to thaw!

The view from the bottom of our drive gives an indication of how the weather is here.

 

If you look closely in the bottom left hand corner you will just be able to make out the snow on top of the patio table!

Told you so!

The weather forecast was spot on! We awoke to thick snow so as soon as I could I went out for a walk with Frida and captured the morning! I am now in hibernation mode and will not be venturing out - well not driving anyway. Jon loves the adventure feel of driving in the snow and I am quite happy to let him but I detest it and am very nervous. We may go out on the moors later and I will take my camera.