Whitby will always be very special to me. It's a sleepy old seaside town in North Yorkshire rich with history, and where Bram Stoker was inspired to set part of Dracula - it's where the ship Demeter transporting the vampire crashes into the shore of England, and where Lucy and Mina are vacationing. Whitby is also famous for it's jet, which is my personal favourite gemstone so I always enjoy trying to find some along the sea shore.
It had been storming all week, so the dramatic weather made for a very gloomy atmosphere which felt perfect. Unfortunately it made it too wet to sit and draw or journal as I'd have liked, but it was still a really lovely day. Although I've been to Whitby a few times I discovered the Lewis Carroll Garden which I'd never seen before, and I also got to see the old swing bridge in action. The tide was in for most of the day, so I stayed until the evening and managed to find two of the largest pieces of jet I've ever found so far (which may not look that big to you, but this stuff is rare to locate!) and was followed by the most beautiful big golden full moon on the drive home.
The big pieces of jet. Like I said, it's hard to find! I also found a huge hag stone, which are considered magical amulets in British folklore to ward off curses, witchcraft, and other ne’er-do-wells - only good fortune can pass through the hole as bad luck and evil thoughts are too large and get stuck. People used to believe that magic can't work on moving water, so the holes of the hag stone made naturally by the sea became symbols of protection. When you also factor in the vampire lore of Whitby where it was found, I think that's kind of cool!
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