Photos:
0859 After the rains of the day before today is, by contrast, a sunshine-filled morning. Mission: Kimmeridge Bay marine life centre in the Isle of Purbeck. This means a train to Wareham changing at Basingstoke.
0901 Watch a crane driver on the old goods yard next to Andover Station expertly manoeuvring rusted rail on to the back of a lorry with surprising delicacy. (I later find out in the local paper that they are to create yet another car park.).
0935 There seem to be a lot of bikes on Basingstoke platform - could be a bit of a crush.
0901 Watch a crane driver on the old goods yard next to Andover Station expertly manoeuvring rusted rail on to the back of a lorry with surprising delicacy. (I later find out in the local paper that they are to create yet another car park.).
0935 There seem to be a lot of bikes on Basingstoke platform - could be a bit of a crush.
0940 Indeed it is a crush! – every man and his bike are on there – I just shove mine in with the rest of them. They won’t be getting the tea trolley through here in a hurry!
1031 The journey to Wareham passes through pleasant Hampshire countryside over the River Test tidal estuary in full flood and the heathlands of the New Forest flecked today with purple heather.
1137 Am now in the old port of Wareham which, for a Bank Holiday weekend, doesn’t seem crowded. Head South crossing the bridge spanning the clear blue of the River Frome to pick up the Kimmeridge road up over the Purbeck Hills. From the highest point looking North I can see distant rain showers sweeping over the green expanse of Wareham Forest and Poole Harbour and to the South, the ocean and Dorset’s Jurassic coastline.
1300 After cresting the hill it is downhill along twisty roads all the way to Kimmeridge village and to the bay beyond. I munch lunch on the large egg-shaped stones on the crescent-shaped beach and take in the scene. The tide is still high but receding to reveal flat expanses of brownish rock extending finger-like into the sea. You can walk out into the sea on these natural piers and let down a fishing line to see what you catch – they are deceptively slippery though as my backside found to it’s cost! The cliffs are stuffed full of fossils and laid down in alternating flat layers of grey and brown rock strata like a layer cake. While the stones on the beach are rounded, by contrast the rock in the cliff has a sawtooth pattern. The whole thing reminds me of the contrasting brick work found in baroque-style buildings like the Natural History Museum.
1357 To complete the ‘mission’ I make my way into the small Dorset Wildlife Trust hut on the East side of the Bay which serves as the Marine Wildlife Centre. They are running a feature on beach litter pollution - frightening quantity, and variety, of litter collected from the beach during a recent ‘clean’.
1431 Wandering back, the receding tide has exposed light brown rock laid down in a flat layer and grooved by the wave action – it is like walking on an elephants skin!
1031 The journey to Wareham passes through pleasant Hampshire countryside over the River Test tidal estuary in full flood and the heathlands of the New Forest flecked today with purple heather.
1137 Am now in the old port of Wareham which, for a Bank Holiday weekend, doesn’t seem crowded. Head South crossing the bridge spanning the clear blue of the River Frome to pick up the Kimmeridge road up over the Purbeck Hills. From the highest point looking North I can see distant rain showers sweeping over the green expanse of Wareham Forest and Poole Harbour and to the South, the ocean and Dorset’s Jurassic coastline.
1300 After cresting the hill it is downhill along twisty roads all the way to Kimmeridge village and to the bay beyond. I munch lunch on the large egg-shaped stones on the crescent-shaped beach and take in the scene. The tide is still high but receding to reveal flat expanses of brownish rock extending finger-like into the sea. You can walk out into the sea on these natural piers and let down a fishing line to see what you catch – they are deceptively slippery though as my backside found to it’s cost! The cliffs are stuffed full of fossils and laid down in alternating flat layers of grey and brown rock strata like a layer cake. While the stones on the beach are rounded, by contrast the rock in the cliff has a sawtooth pattern. The whole thing reminds me of the contrasting brick work found in baroque-style buildings like the Natural History Museum.
1357 To complete the ‘mission’ I make my way into the small Dorset Wildlife Trust hut on the East side of the Bay which serves as the Marine Wildlife Centre. They are running a feature on beach litter pollution - frightening quantity, and variety, of litter collected from the beach during a recent ‘clean’.
1431 Wandering back, the receding tide has exposed light brown rock laid down in a flat layer and grooved by the wave action – it is like walking on an elephants skin!
1522 Relaxing with a pot of Earl Grey at ‘Clavell’s’ tea rooms in Kimmeridge village. It was starting to spot with rain and the three layers I had on weren't keeping the unseasonably chilly wind away so I am inside warming up. There were not as many interesting rock pools as I thought there would be but the geology of the bay is unusual. I have three and a half hours before my train home so I linger awhile.
1600 That was a lovely pot of Earl Grey so I buy some from the farm shop next door to take home.
1809 On the train back home after a fish and chip supper on Wareham station. Eating chips on station platforms is becoming a bit of a habit!
No comments:
Post a Comment