Date: 20180711
Time: 9:35 -15:00
Distance: 19.5 km
Stay: Abbey House, Abbotsbury
Walk
After breakfast I first walk to the beach at Eype’s Mouth to look at the cliffs. Then I start walking.
In the beginning I have a few cliffs that I have to climb, but they are getting lower and lower. After a few kilometers and the first cliff I am in West Bay. Here I fill my water supply.
Then it goes up again. Although the cliffs are getting lower, they are steep. After a few more cliffs and a golf course, I arrive in Burton Freshwater. Here I have to cross the river Bride. The official route goes a bit inland over a bridge, but I do not pay attention and just cross at the beach. The water does not get higher than a few centimeters and I can walk through it.
I do another cliff and then I am in Burton Hive. Here it is time for a can of lemonade and a break at the beach café.
One last cliff and then follows a very long flat stretch along Chesil Beach. Chesil Beach is about 29 kilometers long (so I’m not rid of yet) and consists of all pebbles. That in itself is not so bad, if you do not have to walk over them. If the gravel layer is too thick, then there is almost no getting through. It is like walking on loose sand.
In the beginning I occasionally go a little bit on the pebble, that’s not a problem. Then follows a whole stretch that goes a bit from the beach, past the meadows. That is relaxed walking and because it is flat, making progress.
Unfortunately I return to the beach and follow a long stretch over and through the gravel. That is heavy working. The only way to bring some improvement here is to walk as much as possible over the vegetation that is occasionally there. When I get to a parking lot, I hope I’ve had it. Unfortunately, after the parking lot the gravel continues.
At a second parking lot, I am now 2 kilometers before Abbotsbury, I take a break at a shed where they sell ice cream and the like. An ice cream is nice after that heavy work.
After this break, I have a small stretch of pebble and then it’s over for today. It goes again along ordinary hiking trails and also inland. I follow the Coast Path to the Swannery. In principle I wanted to go inside, but £ 12.50 to see a few swans is a bit too steep. The rest of the Swannery is probably nice, but more aimed at children.
So it goes towards the village and the chapel of St. Catherine. That chapel is on a hill and I walk there first. From the top of the hill you have a great view in all directions.
After I have looked at the chapel and enjoyed the view, I walk down to the village again. At The Ilchester Arms I take a pint and then it goes to my overnight address for today.
All in all, the first part of today was a great walk and the second part a little less. That was mainly due to the plodding through the pebble.
Weather
Great walking weather, sunny and later in the day also cloudy. That keeps the heat away a bit. Of course it was dry. That is also visible on the ground.
Lyric of the day
Today I walked a lot about pebbles / stones and they rolled away under my feet. If I didn’t watch out, I myself would have rolled away… Therefore today Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone by The Temptations:
It was the third of September
That day I’ll always remember,
Yes, I will
‘Cause that was the day that my daddy died
I never got a chance to see him
Never heard nothin’ but bad things about him
Mama, I’m depending on you
To tell me the truth
Mama just hung her head and said, “Son,..
Papa was a rolling stone.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone.
Papa was a rolling stone, my son.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone.”
Hey, mama!
Is it true what they say that papa never worked a day in his life?
And, mama, some bad talk goin’ round town sayin’ that papa had three outside children and another wife,
And that ain’t right
Heard them talking papa doing some store front preachin’
Talked about saving souls and all the time leechin’
Dealing in debt and stealing in the name of the Lord
Mama just hung her head and said,
“Papa was a rolling stone, my son.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone.
Papa was a rolling stone.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
And when he died, all he left us was alone.”
Hey, mama,
I heard papa called himself a “Jack Of All Trades”
Tell me is that what sent papa to an early grave?
Folks say papa would beg, borrow, steal
To pay his bills
Hey, mama,
Folks say papa never was much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Mama, I’m depending on you
To tell me the truth
Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said, “Son,..
Papa was a rolling stone (well, well…)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone.”
I said, “Papa was a rolling stone (yes, he was, my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
My daddy was (papa was a rolling stone), yes, he was
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone.”
