Date: 20180712
Time: 9:35 – 16:25
Distance: 25.3 km
Stay: Seventy Seven Portland, Fortuneswell
Walk
When I leave Abbotsbury, I pass Tithe Barn. It was built in 1390 and used to be 273 feet long and thus the longest barn with a straw roof in England. Just so you know.
I walk past the Swannery again and then it goes up the hill. I now walk a few kilometers through the inlands. Over the hills, along and through meadows. A nice walk.
After a while I arrive at The Fleet. The Fleet is a lagoon with fresh and salt water that separates Chisel Beach from the mainland. The whole area is about 8 miles long.
I walk almost the whole stretch with The Fleet and Chisel Beach on the right and on the left meadows and fields with beans, grain and other green stuff.
I am glad that the route does not run over Chisel Beach. No pebbles today.
About halfway through this part I arrive at the Moonfleet Manor Hotel. Until that time I feel totally Remy, from the Swannery to Moonfleet Manor I have not met anyone and I have not seen anyone. Nice and quiet.
At the Moonfleet Manor hotel I keep a short break for a cup of coffee. It turns out not to be cheap here, £ 3.50 for a cup of coffee with a mediocre biscuit. But the coffee was good.
During the second part of my walk along The Fleet I see more people. This part is clearly more popular. There is also more civilization here, holiday parks and military sites.
I also come along a racetrack for horse races. But unfortunately there is nothing going on today.
After the second and last caravan park, the Coast Path goes through the bushes for a while. A little later a not so nice part follows along a fence of a military training camp.
Eventually I arrive at Ferry Bridge. Here the Coast Path goes two ways, to Weymouth (I will go there tomorrow) and to Portland (I walk there today). The route to Portland is a little boring, just along the busy road to the island.
The Coast Path makes a round trip across Portland Island. That means that there is a split after the ‘crossing’ to the island. Of course I am too busy with other things and at first I walk in the wrong direction. Fortunately, I discover this quickly enough and I find my way to the part of the Coast Path where I have to be. It helps if you expect this kind of thing…
At the Cove House Inn I stop and sit on the terrace for a few pints. From here it is only a short way to my B&B.
Weather
In the morning, up to Moonfleet Manor, it is mainly cloudy. Nice to walk. Then a faint sun comes through and it gets a little muggy. Later the sun comes completely through and when I arrive in Portland it is cloudy again.
Lyric of the day
Today I walked to an island and tomorrow I will make a tour there. It is not just an island, but an island that consists of rocks. The lyrics of today are therefore Rock Island by Jethro Tull:
Savage night on a misty island. Lights wink out in the canyon walls.
Two old boys in a stolen racer. Black rubber contrails in the unwashed halls.
And all roads out of here, seem to lead right back to the Rock Island.
I’ve gone back to Paris, London, and even riding on a jumbo to Bombay.
The long haul back holds faint attraction, but the people here know they’re o.k.
See the girl following the red balloon: walking all alone on her Rock Island.
Doesn’t everyone have their own Rock Island? Their own little patch of sand?
Where the slow waves crawl and your angels fall and you find you can hardly stand.
And just as you’re drowning, well, the tide goes down.
And you’re back on your Rock Island.
Hey there girlie with the torn dress, shaking: who was it touched you? Who was it ruined your day?
Whose footprint calling card? And what they want, stepping on your beach anyway?
I’ll be your life raft out of here, but you’d only drift right back to your Rock Island.
Hey, boy with the personal stereo: nothing `tween the ears but that hard rock sound.
Playing to your empty room, empty guitar tune, No use waiting for that C.B.S. to come around.
`Cos all roads out of here, seem to lead right back to your Rock Island.
