<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Alford-windmilloct14.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-2123" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Alford-windmilloct14-150x200.jpg" alt="Alford-windmill(oct14)" width="150" height="200" /></a>After our trip to Hull we decided to finish our week on a high in pursuit of one of Jane's passions - windmills. We'd visited <a title="Alford Windmill" href="http://www.alford-windmill.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alford Mill</a> before but it was closed so this time we rang ahead to make sure it would be open.

We arrived to find the five sails turning. Most windmills have an even number of sails for the sake of balance so Alford is a rarity. We had a very pleasant lunch in the tea rooms before climbing to the top of the mill - a great experience.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/jane-chickensoct14.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2125 alignleft" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/jane-chickensoct14-300x225.jpg" alt="jane-chickens(oct14)" width="300" height="225" /></a>Whilst we were travelling to Alford we saw signs for <a title="Claythorpe Water Mill" href="http://www.claythorpewatermill.com/" target="_blank">Claythorpe water mill</a> so we decided to find it and pay a visit. We were in for a great surprise, firstly we were visiting on the final afternoon before it closed for the winter and secondly, apart from the mill there was a large number of animals.

Of course Jane had to feed the chickens and there were many various breeds.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/eagle-owloct14.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-2124" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/eagle-owloct14-200x150.jpg" alt="eagle-owl(oct14))" width="200" height="150" /></a>The owls were a bit special.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/black-swanoct14.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2122" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/black-swanoct14-200x150.jpg" alt="black-swan(oct14)" width="200" height="150" /></a>And the black swan managed to draw blood from me when I tried to feed it grain. Somehow all the birds that Jane fed were very gentle.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/otteroct14.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-2132" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/otteroct14-200x150.jpg" alt="otter(oct14)" width="200" height="150" /></a>There were a couple of otters, wallabies, chipmunks and marmosets to keep us entertained; the tea rooms weren't too bad either. The watermill is no longer functional which is a shame but the new owners do have plans to get it restored in the future.