I spent last week down Cornwall with Mom and Dad on a much needed holiday. I decided to do some exploring on the way there and went to the Isle of Portland on the south coast, just beyond Weymouth. I set off a bit late (it was a long week) and hit traffic so got there a few hours later than planned. I was hoping to go to the Tout Quarry but I tried and tried and could not find it. (It's a giant hole; you wouldn't think it would be that difficult!)
But the Coastal walk was worth the trip.
I parked near church which was lovely and very popular (for graves anyway). I can't remember the name of the church but it was a nice quiet walk around.
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| The Church. |
After an on-foot hunt for the quarry I gave up. (Location is still unknown.) The whole isle has a coastal path around it (which is now on my list of things to do). I only walked along a small section and found somewhere nice to sit and have lunch. But the views were very nice!
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| Looking towards Weymouth. |
On the way out, I stopped at Chesil beach for a drink and snack.
After that, things kind of went down hill (literally a few times). I had the clutch changed on the car a few weeks ago and apparently get a dodgy cable. Which gave up on me. This meant the clutch kept getting stuck to the floor. Not helpful when trying to drive. I thought I was just stalling it as I was tired. But then on the A30 while sitting in traffic it just got impossible to drive. It was manageable to drive when in motion, using the right foot under the clutch to change gear, but not possible from sitting.
Luckily the hard shoulder actually had some barriers so I pulled off and hit the hazard lights. At least I felt a bit safer with the barriers.
It wasn't all bad as the weather was lovely so I sat reading my book, catching some sun. A few people stopped to make sure I was ok (usually guys with very big beards and full sleeve tattoos - because appearances really are deceiving and mean little). One sweet lady even got out her car while her husband drove and ran alongside the car to give me a cold drink. People really can be lovely!
After about 3 hours Green flag came and rescued me (best money I ever spent on that rescue policy!).
They decided they couldn't fix it and towed me off the motorway to the service station to wait for the next tow. So at least I could use the bathroom!
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| Not the dinner I had planned. |
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| But a lovely vintage! |
I had to wait to a flat bed, so had some dinner and a bottle of milk. In a wine glass. Because a girl should have standards.
It took a long time for the flat bed to arrive as apparently everyone was breaking down that day. But eventually we got a ride. I guess at least I saved money on the petrol. :/
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| Our ride. |
The ride took nearly 2 hours and the GPS took us down some roads we really shouldn't have been going down in a wide, long vehicle. At one point I had to hang out the passenger window and reattach the side mirror which had been knocked off by a branch/wall/tree. (We couldn't open the doors!) It was an interesting trip. I got to the site at about 11.30pm, 7 hours later than planned. But the view the next morning was worth the effort.
