Destination Lyme Regis August 2nd.

Day of rest for Mum (or so we thought at the time) so we were off and away at 930am. Overcast but not too cold. Up to Wimborne where we had visited on a previous trip, a beautiful and interesting town, then headed down to Bridport and West Bay. It started to spot with rain as we skirted Dorchester, this all being Thomas Hardy country.We have previously visited his cottage so we didn't have to try and find it, for some reason they make it quite hard to find.

The country side was magnificent, the last of the combined harvesters were out in the rain finishing their work as we drove across the crest of a range with the neatly divided fields either side of us. Single lane road, so many photo opportunities but no where to stop and jump out of the car to take them.

We drove into Bridport, a historic market town and right into a spot on East Street where all the activity was. Time for a coffee so we struck lucky with the Chez Cuddys and enjoyed a decent cup of cappuccino.It now started to really pour down and since we had not brought an umbrella with us or raincoats we darted in and out of doorways as we made our way down the street. Woolworths coming to the rescue where we bought a cheapo umbrella which enabled us to at least not get too soaked. Unfortunately it all got the better of us and we made a dash for the car.

Sitting all snug we stayed until the rain eased and decided to drive on to West Bay.

So much to say about this place you'll just have to look at the link.

What a great place, fishing boats, walking tracks,beaches,holiday sites and alas huge apartment buildings being constructed on the harbour front.Not yet overdeveloped but I could see what could happen if the developers have their way.

This was near the end of a walk that they advertise as 1000 kilometres and 1000 experiences.Starting in North Somerset along the coast through Devon,Cornwall back into Devon and ending in Dorset at South Haven point.Some of Britain's most spectacular coastal scenery. (The South West Coast Path) Check it out. (Bob, Lyn is this a walk we could do?)

Beatrice was interested in the fishing boats and checking out the catch they had just brought in.

We also chatted to the RNLI life guards who were having a day off because of the rain. We looked over the beach with just a couple of bedraggled fishermen trying their luck which he told us the day before when it was hot and sunny had 900 people on it! Not a spot of (gritty sand to be seen)

The two of them were kept busy as it shelves quite steeply and its easy to get swept out. No rubber duckies or water skis here, they have to run along the beach with the surfboards and then jump into the water and paddle out to them. They're trying to raise the money to get some equipment.Shows how lucky we are in Australia with all the gear our lifesavers have at nearly all our beaches they patrol. I asked about the surfing and must have sounded quite one myself as he asked if we had brought our boards over with us. Beatrice had to spoil it all by saying we weren't surfers!

Rain on and off so we made off to the Bridport Hotel after checking out the local fish and chops places,deciding we would try something a little bit more up market. Had a beer and ended up with fish and chips and Beatrice the crab.

Park and Pay was all used up at West Bay so it was off to Lyme Regis via Charmouth, the fossil beach. We drove down to the beach area and around and around for somewhere to park. Had a look out at the rain and decided to press on to LR.

We knew it being the height of the holiday season for all the Brits that everywhere would be very crowded and we haven't been wrong.

Not too worry they warned us that parking was at a premium in the town of LR so we used the park up on the hill and walked down to the beach front. Sun shinning now and warm so we made a decision we didn't need our coats or umbrella.(Big Mistake)

Lyme Regis twinned with St Georges in Bermuda, which we both know and have visited many

Ah! here we can imagine the woman in black walking out along the Cob in the book the

French Lieutenant's Women played by Meryl Streep. Just like many people were doing. The tide was way out and every boat in the harbour is high and dry on the mud. High tide not until 8 in the evening. Massive erosion here and we read how the Princess Royal had visited LR earlier on in the year to launch a programme of beach and coastal front work planned to hold back the damage that would eventually destroy much of the area.

Clouds gathering, everyone running for cover as the rain came thundering down. We picked up our pace and made for the little alleyways and streets to find somewhere to shelter. With great luck we came upon The Terrace which not only provided us with shelter but a table by the window and a nice pot of tea for two. We watched tea by the sea, Brit style, sitting outside under the large sunshades which were now umbrellas sheltering the customers who were all prepared as they were decked out in all sorts of macs and wet weather gear. They obviously know how changeable it can all be.

How right they were, half an hour later, sky all blue,sun shinning off with the macs etc and back outside. So we continued walking up to the car park looking at all the buildings reading the plaques visiting the museum and on to the car.

We encountered all sorts of delays on our way home with a whole section of the A35 closed off and a diversion that took us way out of our way. We just followed everyone else nose to tail for miles. We passed the queues the other side which extended for 3 to 4 miles long. Glad we weren't going in that direction. Eventually we found our way back to the main A35 and on to home having our trip extended by over an hour. Thankful to be home safely. It wasn't long after dinner that I found myself nodding off , but not before Mum told me her quiet day consisted of going to do some shopping and visiting Margaret her 89 year old friend at her nursing home! Thanfully she at least went there in a taxi!.

So to Bed.