Day 60 - Bournemouth to Portland ( Near Waymouth)

We were up again early this morning and we had our own breakfast of cereal, croissants and orange juice.

We were on the road by about 6.15 am. The weather was rather foggy to start of with but cleared in to a fine sunny day as the morning fog lifted.

I was in the navigation role today and the first issue was to get to chain link ferry that crossed a small channel which was important…. If the ferry did not operate we would have had a big loop ride.

Fortunately the ferry was operating and we caught the 7.00 am ferry. We were joined by a few other cyclists who were off for rides…. The ferry ride was only about 15 minutes.

After this we were off into the region known as the Isle of Purbrick which is open meadow cattle farming country. Much of the early part after the ferry was on a mixture of made and unmade roads which us going through many farm paddocks and the like. We became quite adept at opening and closing gates!

After this the road took us to a pace called Wool for morning tea. The coffee was nothing to write home about but it was hot.

Once again we saw many riders out from various towns doing their Sunday ride in what turned out to be good weather.

The next stop was Dorchester for lunch… to be frank I was expecting more of Dorchester but the lunch at the bakery of a slice of frittata was good.

After this it was on for the final 20 kms to Weymouth and then across the small isthmus which connects Portland to the coast. There was one biggish climb of about 150 metres over about 2 kms to contend with but we are now well practiced on climbing.

It was pleasing to finish the ride by about 2.30 pm and tonight we are staying in the Outdoor Centre Hostel which is a place where you people come and learn many outdoor activities such as rock climbing etc. They also do windsurfing and a local up at the the laundromat was telling me that a Portland girl won a gold medal at the Paris Games.

It was a good day of riding for me today as the past couple of days I have struggled with a cough and chest infection but today’s weather was ideal to work the bug out of my system.

Today’s pictures are:

The route

View from the top of the climb from Dorchester looking south to the coast

At Weymouth

A couple of pictures in Portland looking out as the sun sets in the west

Our accommodation for the night