Riding, Driving and Walking

19/06/15 Lyme Regis, 32kms riding, 25kms walking.

So Monday came, and we laid in, again, before hopping on our bikes to go pick up the van. It was a cruisie little 9kms to the pick up, and no problems collecting the van. It is a Ford Transit van, used for couriers and stuff. It's covered in Apex Car Rental signage, so we'll stick out nicely. Bikes were secured in the back, and home we went. Bloody van only had 95 miles of fuel in it, so we had to fill it up. That hurt, as fuel is about double Aussie prices here. Never mind, we managed to get back to Oud Manor (Sue and Brad's) without drama.

Will making sure the bikes are safely secured, his trucking days are coming in handy.

We got the kids out for one last ride, before their services. Again, we have been lucky with the weather and had sunshine and warm (probably about 18C, but that is warm here). So we followed the towpath again, back to Kingston Bridge, where we got on it the day we arrived. From there we crossed over the river to Hampton Castle, and then to Bushy Park behind the castle. It is really big, and has heaps of wild deer, squirrels and bird life. So we rode around through the park, past a cricket match, a film set, and back to the bridge, before heading home again. 

People live on those boats on the island.

Hampton Castle, some flower festival is on.

All those kms in the bush, and our first wild deer is in London!

Riding out of Bushy Park. It is really nice and very big.

Can't visit London without getting a pic of one of these.

Before stowing the bikes back in the van, we decided to have a quick beer at The Old Manor, and got chatting to some locals, Lou and Rod. I left Will to chat and rode into the high street to get some credit for the phone. It took longer than expected, and by the time I returned, the gaggle of Mr Have-a-Chats had grown, and Will had settled in. I left him with the bikes and men, and went home to receive the dogs back from the dog walker/sitter. Plenty of wet concrete for them to get into, so supervision was essential.

Lou (blue shirt) was a steam train driver in London, and Rod leading Will astray.

We were booked to dine out with Rod (Elvis) and his partner Collette, so at 6:30pm, when Will hadn't returned, I went over the road to collect him. He was having a jolly time with the pub locals, and it was tough dragging him away. Luckily he had stowed the bikes safely. So we went off to dinner to celebrate Rod's actual birthday, and had another big night of laughs, drinks and food. Not to mention an awesome Elvis cake.

                            

All edible, except the fireworks, which where cool. What a great cake, tasted good too.

Tuesday, we were up early! Yes, we were! There was heaps going on in the Reno house, so we needed to get out. But first we needed a good English breakfast to start us off, so we ventured to Scoffs, on the high street. Then home, grab our bags and skeedoodle. We are headed north to Melbourne. 

Check out this madness on the M1. Totally bonkers. Cycling is so much nicer.

Frickin crazy man! Thank god Will drove! Cars, trucks, trucks and more bloody trucks. The M1 is something. At one stage, there was road works, which narrowed the lanes, and the trucks were only a foot or so from us on the side. Scary, scary stuff.  Once we got off that onto the country roads, it was better, but still a lot of traffic. We were on the hunt for the Straya Animals from Tassie, Steve and Heidi, who are fellow Crazy Guys. They have been cycling about a month longer than us, through some of the same areas. We've followed their blogs, and contacted them via email a few times too. So we tracked them down at Springfields Fisheries Camping Ground in Melbourne, Derbyshire.

Camp set up for the night at the Springfields Fisheries Camp Ground.

Heidi and Steve from Tassie. How cool to have caught up with them.

Visitors to the camp, looking to scab some easy tucker. No joy fellas.

We all arrived at the campground almost together, and it was really great to meet them. They are really laid back, and chilled, and loving their adventure. They try not to plan too far ahead, and just cruise along taking in all the sights and experiences. We had a great night chatting and sharing stories, and in the morning Will and I felt sad we were driving the boring van, and they were cycling off. Go you Tassie Devils, and just keep pedalling. Such nice people.

Almost ready for another days ride, I want to keep going too.

Wednesday, was drop off the bikes day, in Bridgwater, Summerset, so we had a couple of hundred kilometres to drive. Another white knuckle run, this time on the M4, and not quite as bad as yesterday. We made good time, and luckily, the old GPS (Destiny's Child, DC) we'd got three years ago and left with Brad, was still here and going. She got us right to SJS Cycles front door. Dave greeted us, took our bikes and instructions, and pushed us out the door. It felt weird leaving without them. 

Good to see you again DC (our one at home is called Destiny and is bigger).

We've been here before, nothing has changed!

From Bridgwater we headed south to check out the Jurassic Coast, which everyone said was amazing. We're starting in Lyme Regis, and found Hook Farm Camping, on the UKCamping website. It is fantastic. It is just out of the main village, in Uplyme, and at the top of the hill with beautiful views.

Chores done, poor Will is buggered after all that driving. What a Gypo!

Thursday, we ate our delicious cereal, ugh, and took Adrian's (park owner) advice and followed the river walk into Lyme Regis village. Seeing as we aren't riding, we figure we need to do walking, or we won't be able to have beer and yummy food. So walk we did. Into town, along The Cobb, up The High street, and back to our tent. Just under 11kms. Good job! We made our own dinner, as the local pub wasn't doing food, due to it having a Beer Festival starting tomorrow. Bugger, but maybe we should stay another night to check that out?

Downhill on the way in sounds nice, until you come home...

An old mill along the trail to town. Love the thatched roof.

Walking along the Cobb, it was once a busy port.

The marina at low tide. Poor little boats.

All these little beach huts are for rent, people were just sitting in them reading the paper...?

They love their Kombis over here, here's one...

And another one...

And one more....there were so many, they are awesome.

Friday, yep, we're staying another night. So, to make sure we are allowed a few beers at the Festival, we decided to take some more of Adrian's advice, and drive to Stonebarrow, near Charmouth (about 5kms), and do the cliff walk to Golden Cap and then onto Seatown. It is about five and a half hours of walking, up lots of rolling hills, and Golden Cap is the highest point in Dorset. At Seatown, we had lunch before tackling the climb back to Stonebarrow.

Walking through farms and across fields was a little strange, but wow, the views.

Looking back to Lyme Regis.

The cows weren't bothered by us.....

But they were curious and thought they might like to come too...

Almost at the top of Golden Cap....beautiful!

At the top, looking down to Seatown where we're going for lunch.

Going down to lunch, hello moo cows..

Yay, lunch spot achieved. Great spot.

It was tough, we are so NOT, walking fit. Our calf muscles were protesting loudly, and my knees were struggling with the steep down hills. About halfway back, we stopped to check the map, and an older couple we had passed caught us, and we walked with them the rest of the way. Gordon and Chantelle, from Kent, walk regularly, and Gordon, who strode out front and was constantly waiting at gates for us, told us he was 80yrs old. Wow, they were amazing. Lovely people, and they helped us get through the fatigue to make it back to the cars. Coincidentally, they were parked next to us. Huh! So we walked 15kms, it felt like more...ha ha ha. My legs are really stiff and sore now, but we're heading 400 yards (how far is that? I can't figure it out, why are they using yards anyway?) down to the pub to check out the Beer Festival.

It is actually easier going back up....

Well, dis-a-point-ment! Warm beers, in the field, ten people there, and the only food was a sausage sizzle or hamburger. That is bread and meat with sauce, frickin hell, I just walked down the hill for a bad BBQ? One small positive was the Morris Dancers, who were just a bunch of guys with sticks and bells jumping around and singing weird songs while bashing their sticks together. Good for a laugh. Then we pushed ourselves back up the hill to our tent. Gee I hope we can get out of it in the morning....