A long paddle today, setting off in the sunshine, and enjoying the changing geology and scenery of this stretch of coast. I've been incredibly lucky with weather so far: a high over northern Britain has created easterliess to push me along for the last few days - unexpected and most welcome.
The sandy cliffs near Bridport gave way to the the (mudstones and shales?) of Charmouth, where the casual onlooker could see swarms of fossil hunters chipping away at the cliffs. But don't be deceived! In reality, this is a secret army of Cornish separatists, chiselling away a breakaway republic. Only a few thousand years to go lads, and you'll reach the Bristol Channel!
Dawlish Warren looks attractive on the map: a small village, with access to one of the three campsites via a level crossing over the railway. In reality, the level crossing is impassable, and the village and its campsites exist to serve the amusement park. Having trollied the boat uphill and down for a couple of hours in the dark, I was not amused at all by the time I returned to the beach to pitch camp. Dawlish Warren is not somewhere to re-visit.
The sandy cliffs near Bridport gave way to the the (mudstones and shales?) of Charmouth, where the casual onlooker could see swarms of fossil hunters chipping away at the cliffs. But don't be deceived! In reality, this is a secret army of Cornish separatists, chiselling away a breakaway republic. Only a few thousand years to go lads, and you'll reach the Bristol Channel!
Dawlish Warren looks attractive on the map: a small village, with access to one of the three campsites via a level crossing over the railway. In reality, the level crossing is impassable, and the village and its campsites exist to serve the amusement park. Having trollied the boat uphill and down for a couple of hours in the dark, I was not amused at all by the time I returned to the beach to pitch camp. Dawlish Warren is not somewhere to re-visit.
Secret Cornish Separatist army? Hmm it seems that Chesil Beach may have had more of an effect on you than at first thought.... Alternatively you will now have to keep an eye out for a furious army of them, wielding pickaxes, trying to prevent their secret becoming known...
ReplyDeleteEither way, all our love and best wishes from London town!