My Trip to the East Coast

The sun was shining and the sky was blue as we arrived at Filey with my carer, my wife Betty, and my daughter Tina, and my Grandchildren, Jodie and Khloe. Don't the little lovelies make you feel young again! It didn't take long for the youngsters to be taken to the play park, and after watching the children play on the swings and the slides, memories of my childhood came flooding back, but that's another story.

The holiday camp that we went to was named the "Blue Dolphin." It is a wonderful place to relax and take in the magnificent view from the cliff tops. There are hundreds of caravans (motor homes) situated there and we were in a specially adapted wheelchair friendly one. My carer and I were up early in the morning watching the sunrise and the view was breathtaking. I inhaled a lungful of the ozone air as the fresh breeze from the open sea gently passed me as I sat facing the cliffs. I couldn't get too close, as there was a very long fence barring us from going any further that lead to a very steep drop to the ocean surface below.

I spent a lot of time going along the cliff tops and I was at peace with myself, nothing could take this away from me, and the wind at times, tugged at my hair and my protective waterproof wind jacket. I knew that I was only approximately ten feet from the steep drop at the edge of the cliffs, and probably thirty years ago I would have found a way down to the rocks below just for the fun of it, but at the present time I was in my element enjoying listening to the vibrant sounds of the gulls calling, the ocean as it crashed against the rocks below, and the sound of walkers in the near distance calling to the dogs they had with them.

The last time I was up here was over twenty years ago, but I wasn't in a wheelchair then, but I remember that my kids and I had a wonderful time, especially playing on the beach, making sandcastles, and I remember when I picked them up and carried them a few feet into the sea, the excited screams from their mouths still rang in my ears as I sat at the cliff edge trying to look down. My carer was good enough to get closer and he took some pictures for me looking down the cliff face.

I would definitely recommend anyone to visit the east coast for a relaxing time and clearing the head, as well as bringing back some very fond memories.

Time for a cuppa!

Mike Coatesworth