Friday, 17 July 2015
Last Day
Our last day started overcast and damp but by the time we had finished breakfast and we're ready for the off the sky had cleared and the sun was breaking through. We drove to Durlston Castle and left the car there (that is where Julia and Kevin had finished yesterday) and set out for Swanage to meet Jean, Mike and Co for coffee. The route started off well, through the leafy, shaded paths of the country park, then it came up onto the road and a sign pointed us down a set of steps which I did not remember from the day before...... The steps were steep and came out onto a boulder-strewn foreshore but no path or way forward, so we had to backtrack and go the correct way, but not before confirming the sign had pointed the wrong way and it wasn't just us being stupid!
We did a bit of shopping in Swanage (Kevin had been looking for a lighthouse the whole walk and eventually found a perfect one on our last day!)
The walk out of Swanage was through houses but emerging onto a hill path to the top of the cliffs with a beautiful view back to Swanage. We met up with Mandy and Pete near the headland of Old Harry, walked with them for a while, stopped for refreshments in a beach-side cafe then they went to collect my car and meet us again at the ferry. While we were walking along the beach (4miles from Old Harry to the ferry) we had to walk through the nudist beach.......but, thankfully, nakedness was not compulsory! There were a few ladies splashing about in the shallows but quite a few men walking to and fro on the beach showing off their wares!
After photos and champagne (as well as nibbles provided by Mandy) we caught the ferry to Poole and our hotel........unfortunately the hotel had 'lost' my reservation for a sea-view room so we ended up with one overlooking the car park!
And so ends our fantastic 630 mile jaunt from Minehead to Poole. We have had lots of fun, seen some spectacular parts of the country impossible to see from a car, met some characters my had some great accommodation and some not quite so good. All in all, an unforgettable experience.
Now to start planning the next one!
We did a bit of shopping in Swanage (Kevin had been looking for a lighthouse the whole walk and eventually found a perfect one on our last day!)
The walk out of Swanage was through houses but emerging onto a hill path to the top of the cliffs with a beautiful view back to Swanage. We met up with Mandy and Pete near the headland of Old Harry, walked with them for a while, stopped for refreshments in a beach-side cafe then they went to collect my car and meet us again at the ferry. While we were walking along the beach (4miles from Old Harry to the ferry) we had to walk through the nudist beach.......but, thankfully, nakedness was not compulsory! There were a few ladies splashing about in the shallows but quite a few men walking to and fro on the beach showing off their wares!
After photos and champagne (as well as nibbles provided by Mandy) we caught the ferry to Poole and our hotel........unfortunately the hotel had 'lost' my reservation for a sea-view room so we ended up with one overlooking the car park!
And so ends our fantastic 630 mile jaunt from Minehead to Poole. We have had lots of fun, seen some spectacular parts of the country impossible to see from a car, met some characters my had some great accommodation and some not quite so good. All in all, an unforgettable experience.
Now to start planning the next one!
Thursday, 16 July 2015
More photos from Thursday
After eventually picking Julia and Kevin up at the end of their walk, Kevin decided that there was enough time for him to see the steam trains at Swanage Station......there was a train about to leave for Corfe Castle so we bundled him on board and said we would collect him at the other end. Just had to take the photo of the first class dining car with Julia's name on the side......unfortunately this was not the train Kevin was on board.
Later we met up
with Kevin's family, had my first Crabbies Ginger Beer of this trek then went for a lovely meal in the little restaurant next door to our B&B, which is an old Post Office building with Inglenook fireplace, winding staircase and real old charm.
Later we met up
Lulworth Cove
It was a beautiful morning in Lulworth Cove so we went for a walk before breakfast!! Julia said it was the best breakfast of the trip as she had mushroom and tomato topped with humous, guacamole, poached eggs and a sweet chilli sauce!
The hotel was perfectly placed and very nice but they blotted their copy book because they set up one of our rooms for single occupancy, then put J and K in it - so they had to ask for extra towels and cup etc.....the employee who took this request treated them as if they had made the error by requesting the wrong room.......but even though I was single occupancy, they were charging the same as if 2 people had the room (ie no single occupancy rate).
I decided to take a day off today as my feet were a little painful,and I ABSOLUTELY want to walk tomorrow as it is the last day of the whole trek.
I dropped Julia and Kevin off at Kimeridge because they could not walk from Lulworth to Kimeridge because the ranges were closed due to live firing (they said they could even feel the heavy artillery fire through the earth and I could certainly hear it in Swanage!)
I drove to Worth Matravers to see if I could see them on the path, but it was too misty with nowhere for me to shelter, so I decided to go on to Swanage and wait for them in the car park at Durlston Head. I arrived at the car park, paid for an all-day ticket then settled down with my flask of tea and my book for a lazy day. ...... At 2pm I decided to go,to the cafe to get a cup of tea and await their arrival....I walked 3/4 a mile....only to find there was no cafe and I was in the wrong car park!! By the time I walked back to the car and got to the right place, they had arrived and were searching the car park for me, had begged the use of a landline phone from the cafe to contact me...... And I had been lipping in the car!! (P.S. Don't tell Kevin!)
The hotel was perfectly placed and very nice but they blotted their copy book because they set up one of our rooms for single occupancy, then put J and K in it - so they had to ask for extra towels and cup etc.....the employee who took this request treated them as if they had made the error by requesting the wrong room.......but even though I was single occupancy, they were charging the same as if 2 people had the room (ie no single occupancy rate).
I decided to take a day off today as my feet were a little painful,and I ABSOLUTELY want to walk tomorrow as it is the last day of the whole trek.
I dropped Julia and Kevin off at Kimeridge because they could not walk from Lulworth to Kimeridge because the ranges were closed due to live firing (they said they could even feel the heavy artillery fire through the earth and I could certainly hear it in Swanage!)
I drove to Worth Matravers to see if I could see them on the path, but it was too misty with nowhere for me to shelter, so I decided to go on to Swanage and wait for them in the car park at Durlston Head. I arrived at the car park, paid for an all-day ticket then settled down with my flask of tea and my book for a lazy day. ...... At 2pm I decided to go,to the cafe to get a cup of tea and await their arrival....I walked 3/4 a mile....only to find there was no cafe and I was in the wrong car park!! By the time I walked back to the car and got to the right place, they had arrived and were searching the car park for me, had begged the use of a landline phone from the cafe to contact me...... And I had been lipping in the car!! (P.S. Don't tell Kevin!)
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Wyke Regis to Lulworth Cove
We had a really early breakfast today and we're on the road before 8am. The first 4 miles took us about 1 1/4 hrs. We did not wait for the ferry in Weymouth harbour as it did not start until 10 and we were there just after 9am. We saw a HUGE jelly fish swimming in the harbour - it's head was easily as big as a dustbin lid!
We stopped in a cafe for a coffee and cake ate 9.30 then walked on to meet Kevin's family, Mell and Mark at Osmington Mills for lunch. We had a long lunch atop there then set off, with Carol joining us at 1:15. The walk to Lulworth Cove via Dirdle Dor was extremely hard, with vertical climbs and descents! We met Mel and Mark at Durdle Dor then hurried on to Lulworth as we had a table reservation for 6:30 and tine was pressing.
Mike gave us a lift back to Wyke Regis to collect the car then we returned to Lulworth,,had a quick shower and down to dinner. The food and the company were very good but I am now very tired so no more for tonight. - not even any abuse for Kevin!!
We stopped in a cafe for a coffee and cake ate 9.30 then walked on to meet Kevin's family, Mell and Mark at Osmington Mills for lunch. We had a long lunch atop there then set off, with Carol joining us at 1:15. The walk to Lulworth Cove via Dirdle Dor was extremely hard, with vertical climbs and descents! We met Mel and Mark at Durdle Dor then hurried on to Lulworth as we had a table reservation for 6:30 and tine was pressing.
Mike gave us a lift back to Wyke Regis to collect the car then we returned to Lulworth,,had a quick shower and down to dinner. The food and the company were very good but I am now very tired so no more for tonight. - not even any abuse for Kevin!!
Elder Abuse
How lovely it is to be so well loved and respected. Last evening talking to Mel, she said I was her aunt but I said "I am your Great Aunt" to which Kevin commented "There s nothing Grand about her"!!!
This morning we sat on the beach having coffee....I dried the bench for Kevin to,sit down, then He complained about the view - when all he could see was Julia and myself!!!
Sat nav for sale
Someone on eBay will pay a fortune for my SatNav.......absolutely unique! a SatNav with a sense of humour!!! Yesterday it took us from Weymouth back to our B and B in Wyke Regis, crossing our previous route 3 times and adding 5 miles to our journey. For the first time on the trip, Kevin was speechless. Priceless.
Portland
We decided to take the car across the causeway to Portland rather than walk the 2 miles of Tarmac each way (and Julia and Kevin had done that before). Once we had parked the car we set off up the hill on our circuit of Portland. The climb was worth the view back along Chesil beach and The Fleet, especially as the weather had improved considerably!
The landscape is rugged and in several places people had made sculptures out of stones left over from the quarrying. There were several route diversions due to landslides and unstable cliffs. At Portland Bill we had a coffee each and shared a plate of cheesy chips.! yummy!
On the journey back the island sheltered us from the fairly strong winds and it was a pleasant walk with only 2 hard uphill sections. We were fascinated by a group of about 8 goats roaming wild and climbing old fortification walls which appeared to be almost vertical!
The descent along a disused rail line was disappointing due to the volume of rubbish left there.
We stopped off at a cafe on the causeway on the way back for coffee and Kevin and I had an Eton Mess each.. Later we met up with Mel and Mark in Weymouth and had supper with them. They are in the UK for the Fairford Air Show.
The landscape is rugged and in several places people had made sculptures out of stones left over from the quarrying. There were several route diversions due to landslides and unstable cliffs. At Portland Bill we had a coffee each and shared a plate of cheesy chips.! yummy!
On the journey back the island sheltered us from the fairly strong winds and it was a pleasant walk with only 2 hard uphill sections. We were fascinated by a group of about 8 goats roaming wild and climbing old fortification walls which appeared to be almost vertical!
The descent along a disused rail line was disappointing due to the volume of rubbish left there.
We stopped off at a cafe on the causeway on the way back for coffee and Kevin and I had an Eton Mess each.. Later we met up with Mel and Mark in Weymouth and had supper with them. They are in the UK for the Fairford Air Show.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)