The forecast was for heavy rain most of the day. It started out and ended up that way, but much of the day was overcast but dry with off and on showers. Rain did not deter the intrepid Elaine and Dorothy from their morning walk up and back to Dunstanburgh Castle.
CLICK ON PICS TO ENLARGE
At 9:30 we piled into Pierre Peugeot and headed back into Alnwick for some inside activities. First stop was at the Hardy Museum and Shop. (No, not Thomas Hardy, the author of the inscrutable Return of the Native, a book that I hated in High School and never actually read – don’t tell Miss Patton! That Hardy is from Dorset, and we skipped his home and museum when we were there. That will teach him to write books so full of obscure symbolism, allegory, and imagery!). This is the House of Hardy Fishing Tackle Museum and Store. Hardy’s is a famous name to fly fishermen (like Elaine’s brother Greg). They have been located here in Alnwick since 1872, originally as a gun shop. While they sell most everything fishing related, the Perfect Reel is their most famous product. (Think $500-$600) It was an instant success when introduced in 1891, and the firm has built it, with occasional interruptions, right up to the present day, a feat that no other tackle manufacturer can even begin to challenge. The museum (and the shop) would mainly appeal to fly fishing fanatics. I think you would have to use a team of horses to get Greg Weiler out of here.
Next we headed to downtown Alnwick to visit the Bailiffgate Museum located just a stone’s throw down the road from Alnwick Castle, ancestral and current home of the Duke of Northumberland. We visited the Castle and its magnificent gardens last year. The Bailiffgate Museum is located in the former St Mary’s Church (Jesuit). The Duke of Northumberland agreed to be the museum patron for some citizens who wanted to establish a museum in Alnwick. It finally opened in 2002. It is small but contains some interesting exhibits about the history of Alnwick. Currently it is running an exhibit of some artwork associated with the Harry Potter books by illustrator Jim Kay. (Much of the Harry Potter movies were filmed at Alnwick Castle.) In two weeks the whole exhibit will be moved permanently to the British Library in London. There is an opportunity to dress up in Harry Potter costumes to take photographs which, of course, we declined.
After the museum we took the short ride to Boulmer yet again after having ascertained (by telephone) that the Fishing Boat Inn’s Seaside Restaurant would be open for lunch. Good choice! We had a prime table overlooking the foggy beach, and the food was excellent:
- (Elaine) Leek & Lentil Soup; Salmon and Cod Fish Pie with Prawns on Top; and Carrot Cake
- (Joe) Fried Whitebait with Tartare Sauce; Baked Cod with Crab; and Lemon Tart with Raspberries
Then it was back home to Craster Rocks for a quiet afternoon followed by a simple dinner snack of fruit, cheese, and crackers after de rigueur five o’clock cocktails.
