West Lulworth, Dorset

Seaton is always a peaceful overnight stop. Up early we watched the town wake. Walkers, joggers, dog walkers and swimmers passed by all not bothered by the vans and very friendly. One lady swimmer crossed from the flats behind propping her small wooden ladder against the seawall so she could hop over.

It amused us. But an early morning dip was not for us. We had no cossies. And we didn't think the genteel folk of Seaton were ready for skinny dippers with breakfast! Away just after nine thirty arriving in Lyme Regis before the crowds, Marge was the first van in the motorhome parking section. Car parking charges have shot up this summer in west Dorset and after parting with £6.30 for three hours parking, we could see why many of the car parks were half empty.

Lyme Regis means pasties, and before twelve we'd eaten two. A walk along the beach, devoid of fossils, but still the fossil hunters came and then into the town stopping at a shop that sells quirky items and Ercol furniture, where John spent time talking to the owner before heading over to Bridport where we parked Marge next to a Volkswagen Exclusive, German registered.

It was very impressive, and at one time we thought of buying one. Not wanting to be too far away from home we drove up, over and along the coast road to Weymouth passing a cycle tourer along the way. We sympathised with her struggle on such challenging roads but were not envious. This coming weekend should have been our last in France. We are still very sad not to have completed our trip. Portland was our overnight destination.

Twice we have stayed next to the sculpture park at Tout Quarry. After settling in a van arrived and within minutes started up a generator. That's a no to us. So, we moved down into the centre of Weymouth, but cars with noisy exhausts, or fart pipes as John calls them and the location made Angela feel uneasy so we drove on to West Lulworth where we knew we'd be able to park by the church, which is where we are now with another van. Tomorrow home to Poole just down the road, and then perhaps another couple of nights away. An update on our balcony is steels up by end of Wednesday and French door fitted from kitchen Thursday. At last!