Ridge, nr: Wareham.

We were awake early this morning woken by the glare of a promising sun. A big day today, our grandson Elliot would get to use his 'new bucket and spade'. Little did we know what weather lay ahead. At around ten thirty on the way into Poole the hopes of a fine day faded. The forecast was for a day of sunshine and cloud and no rain until 4 pm. Someone got that wrong. The sky darkened and the rain fell, but we clung on to hope every time we saw a flash of blue sky. 

By the time we met up with the family we were resorting to prayer. Luckily a break in the weather meant we could walk along the beach up to Poole quay where we were able to sit and have coffee. The quay was alive with other hopeful people, some even embarking on the boat trip to Brownsea island. But all the time the rain threatened, with angry clouds gathering at all angles.

Sandwiches bought, we all crammed into Marge (with windows slightly opened) to eat and hope. 

Next stop was the beach at Rockley Park, ready for Elliots big moment. As we approached it began to, yes snow!  After sitting in our respective vehicles, a window of opportunity arose and the bucket and spade made its debut.

Children are so resilient, our grandson happily played on the wet sand revelling in the moment. Then in true British style, when the next wave of rain, or should we say hail fell, we all piled in to Marge for an ice cream.

The weather continued to test us until in the end another heavy hail shower ended the day for us all. It had not turned out to be the day we'd planned, but little Elliot seemed to enjoy himself.

Earlier than expected John and I headed to the campsite at Ridge. At 5.30 pm the sun cracked the clouds and a strip of blue split the grey clouds giving an improving picture to a bleak campsite with just four of us staying. If it was solitude you were looking for, this was the place. Fortunately, we've stayed here before many times and know how nice it can be.

BBQ grill on and sausages on the griddle we couldn't believe the change in the weather. Sometimes life's not fair. 

We took an evening walk down to the nearby boatyard, eerily quiet as we walked through a graveyard of vessels. The sunlight softening in an evening glow lit the reeds standing tall on the flood plain and along the riverbank. Despite the hint of a chill, we allowed our bodies to accept the little warmth the sun offered.

Now back in Marge, we watch a washed-out sunset through the trees. Tomorrow, we will return home, but are already planning Marge's next trip in a week or two...weather permitting! 

 Norden, nr: Corfe.

Last night, what a night, the van was a rockin', the rain ran off Marge like teardrops and the church bells tolled every fifteen minutes in the darkness.  All a little bit scary, but we'd experienced worse when we spent a night in a small tent on a cliff top in Spain, whilst cycle camping six years ago. 

The terrors of the night gave way to a calm morning which dawned bright. We waited and waited for Trudy and Andrew to bring the bacon baps, but they didn't arrive. So, it was back to omelette and cereal. But we were happy, we were in a beautiful spot and all was good. There's a saying, 'if you don't get out of bed smiling, then try another life'.

After breakfast we walked down to Lulworth Cove. A few lines on the side of a building caught our attention. 

After many years of visiting this natural world heritage site we were a little taken aback that it had been transformed in to yet another site of cafe culture. The once shack of a cafe had gone, and the steps where a local hippy used to sit and paint pebbles and shells from the beach, replaced by a slick new structure selling paninis and coffee. Walking boots had been exchanged for flip flops. Totally inappropriate footwear for climbing the cliff paths. Ignoring the change, we walked along the beach fossil hunting, handing the few we found to a family whose search had been to no avail.

Then a walk up to stair hole, before succumbing to 21st century tourism and buying ice creams at how much!!

Back at Marge, we stepped inside the Holy Trinity Church. Built in Norman times the church was peaceful and enjoyed views across the countryside to the sea.

Lunch eaten we left the picturesque village of West Lulworth heading for Swanage. We had not travelled far, when John's daughter Dawn telephoned to say that our granddaughter Cath had landed an internship scriptwriting for a major festival (Writing On The Wall) in Liverpool. Fantastic news, we were very pleased, but not half as pleased and proud as her mother was. 

Swanage was quiet, too quiet for a day in May. We took a walk to the Old Forge Antiques Shop as we always do when in the area to see what mid-century furniture they had in, passing on the way the engine sheds of the Swanage steam railway, where we stopped for a while to watch a man cleaning out a boiler on one of the steam trains.

Late this afternoon we were once again back at The Halfway Inn near Corfe, as tomorrow we are meeting Angela's son, his wife and our youngest grandson in Poole, with fingers crossed for good weather so our grandson Elliot can put his new bucket and spade to good use. Early this evening we sat out for a while in the pub garden with a few other brave souls, including a young couple in their twenties. The young lady had ripped jeans on, so badly ripped on one leg they were basically very short shorts. She had even longer legs, than our Marge. Breed them tough down here in Dorset we thought, as we sat in multiple layers and scarfs. 

 West Lulworth

A nice surprise this morning. When we opened Marge's blinds our friends Trudy and Andrew were parked in front of us. They'd come over to Falmouth to walk their dogs and treat us to breakfast. A very nice breakfast it was as well, hot drinks and bacon and egg/mushroom baps from the cafe at Gyllyngvase beach. We hurriedly re-arranged Marge, making room for us all to sit inside (window and door open for ventilation), and chatted contently. what a great start to our last morning. Thank you, Trudy and Andrew. Our treat next time. 

Just before noon, it was time to point Marge eastwards and set off on our return journey. We'd enjoyed our time in Cornwall made all the more enjoyable for seeing our friends. A quick stop at Tesco in Truro for a few groceries and five 5 litre containers of water to top up Marge's tank.

We were heading towards Bridport which we'd planned as our overnight stop. Arriving there around 4.30 pm we both didn't feel happy about staying so we moved on to Weymouth. The journey to Bridport had been a little challenging. Marge had been fine, excelling herself, but the wind was strong, gusting across the dual carriageways challenging Angela who had to keep Marge, who is three metres tall from not getting caught unawares by the wind. Weymouth was a no go as well. last night it was reported that fifteen vans stayed overnight at the pier car park, this evening just a few, and the occupants of the two we spoke to were not staying, so we took a look at the park4night app and found a stop at West Lulworth by the church, which is where we park the car when we visit Lulworth Cove. So that's where we are now after travelling through three counties. The wind is very strong, reportedly gusting at 60 mph. Marge is shaking, we are shaking! Thank God we are not on the campsite up on the cliff top at nearby Durdle Door. Who would believe that yesterday was shorts weather and today winter coats? It is undoubtably going to be a noisy night, with the wind set to continue through tomorrow despite the return of the sunshine. Roll on Wednesday when the weather will settle.  

 Falmouth (Day 3)

This morning John opened the sliding roof above our bed, the sun bathed us in the new light of the day.

Whilst we ate a late breakfast a collection of families jogged by, the children easily out pacing the adults amongst a tangle of dog leads. 

We decided to stay local today walking down to the town past the dockyard where a few naval vessels were berthed. The town was alive with visitors, but the usual hustle and bustle of a bank holiday weekend was missing. 

We'd promised ourselves fish and chips for lunch, and after walking the length of the town stopped to eat them at the Prince of Wales pier, where the passenger ferries arrive from nearby Flushing and St. Mawes. A gull shuffled back and forth as we ate, not canny enough to catch us unawares. The sun played hide and seek, and a cool wind blew.

Nearby a busker softly played classical Spanish music on his guitar. We were enjoying the mellow sound so much we stayed for a while to listen, showing our appreciation before we left.

In Church Street we stopped to take a look in a shop called Cream, which specialised in homewares replicating Cornwall's coastal heritage. We saw many items that we thought would look good in our new home, especially a large and very expensive mirror!

As we left the town, we took a look at the Killigrew monument erected in 1738.

Just along the road from the monument a gull had built its nest on the sloping roof of a terraced house. It seemed more than happy, but we weren't so sure about the location. By the time we'd returned to Marge the sun was hot and we rested for a while before walking once again to Pendennis point, where we sat admiring the view and enjoying a video call with the family who we will meet in Poole on Wednesday.

A further walk around the point took us by an old ruin which looked across the mouth of the river Fal towards the castle at St. Mawes.

Back at the van, our faces burning from the warm afternoon sun, we loosely planned the next few days. Poole Wednesday, but before that we were not decided yet. As the saying goes, ' tell god your plans and he will laugh at you, because he knows you are unlikely to stick to them!'.

 Falmouth (Day 2)

Late morning we left marge in the company of the few vans staying another night, and walked the mile to Gyllyngvase beach where we met with our friends Trudy and Andrew who live nearby. The bright blue sky smudged by a few clouds of cotton hung above a clear turquoise sea.

We had not seen our friends for well over a year so we had plenty to talk about as we sat at a picnic table on the beach. After a couple of hot drinks, we moved into the nearby park where it was less crowded and ate the delicious pasties that Andrew had made for our lunch. After much catching up we returned to the beach for an ice cream. The afternoon passed by quickly and before we knew it, it was time to say our farewells. 

As we walked back along the seafront past the infamous 42 steps, we stopped to look around Gyllyngdune gardens opened in 1907.

A little bit of the exotic mixed with shell seating areas and a shell cave which houses unusual shells thought to have arrived on ships from the west indies on which they were used as ballast. 

Back at Marge, who bathed in the early evening sunshine we reflected on the day. After a shower and spag bol, we took a walk out just before nine o' clock to view the last of the sunset over Falmouth, which outlined the billowing clouds that darkened in the fading light.

Across the water the St. Anthony's lighthouse on the eastern side of Falmouth harbour flashed its warning. 

We are enjoying our time here and will probably stay another day.