Not that I'd let a mere day of torrential rain stop my plans! Pete dropped me off at Corfe Castle on Saturday and I headed off over Ridgeway Hill and across Grange Heath towards the campsite at Wool. It started raining heavily approximately 20 minutes into this 10 mile walk and didn't stop until I got to the campsite. At one point while I was walking through a farm, a collie came running up to me and did the sheepdog thing of sitting very close in to my leg and looking up at me. Cute. I think I may have been confused for a shepherd with my trekking poles! The rain seemed to get heavier as the day went on and it did dampen my spirits somewhat, but only a teeny little bit.
Fortunately, there was a brief interruption to the downpour while the weather gods allowed me to pitch my tent. Then it started raining again and didn't stop until Sunday morning. The campsite was basic - the loos and showers were in portakabins, and there was only one tap for drinking water - but it was very clean and the owner was really friendly. Again, my tent was dwarfed by the others on the site, good job I haven't got a Napoleon complex (is there such a thing as small tent syndrome?? Well I think it's small but perfectly formed). I walked another 3 miles into Wool and back to get my dinner (I really fancied baked beans, also had some hickory smoked chicken and french bread, followed by a yogurt, and half a Bounty bar). I was obliged to call in at the Black Bear in order to sample a pint of their Hoppy Hare, one of my favourites. Back at base, I found that it is fine to cook with enough ventilation just inside the tent, but wouldn't do it for very long and definitely only with the tiny primus stove. No noxious gases in my tent....The new sleeping back kept me toastie warm and the inflatable mattress really helped, I actually got a fair bit of sleep. Loved waking up early and making coffee whilst sitting outside and listening to the dawn chorus.
Breakfast was also cooked in the rain (porridge, yogurt (they were on offer), banana) and I was thinking Sunday was also going to be wet. However, the weather perked up no end as I was packing up the rucksack and the tent was dry by the time I was ready to decamp. That makes life easier, methinks. As it turned out, the sun shone the whole of day and I enjoyed a superb walk down to the coast via Lulworth Castle (stopped for lunch - apple, pasty and the other half of the Bounty bar), then the exceedingly steep up, up, up Arish Mell and down, down, down to Mupe Cove and on into Lulworth Cove. The hills were not as bad as I was expecting with the full pack, so I was pleased with that. Actually, I found trudging across the shingle beach harder than Arish Mell! Pete took the piccie of Lulworth Cove as he was waiting for me to arrive. The sea was an amazing turquoise colour which you can't really see and I wished I could have gone for a swim. But I didn't have a cozzie and was not quite brave enough to treat the beach goers to the sight of me in my knickers and sports bra!! Was grateful for the flask of coffee that Pete had brought for me, not to mention for the lift home and his patience while waiting for me to make my way across the hills to meet him. Home in time for tea and to unpack the rucksack and give everything an airing before next outing. That will be the second half of the Stour Valley Way, 32 miles from Blandford Forum to Stourhead which I'll walk and camp over three days middle of September. Meanwhile, Mum is coming down from St. Helen's for the Bank Holiday weekend and then it's the Bournemouth Air Festival the weekend after that. Busy times!
Fortunately, there was a brief interruption to the downpour while the weather gods allowed me to pitch my tent. Then it started raining again and didn't stop until Sunday morning. The campsite was basic - the loos and showers were in portakabins, and there was only one tap for drinking water - but it was very clean and the owner was really friendly. Again, my tent was dwarfed by the others on the site, good job I haven't got a Napoleon complex (is there such a thing as small tent syndrome?? Well I think it's small but perfectly formed). I walked another 3 miles into Wool and back to get my dinner (I really fancied baked beans, also had some hickory smoked chicken and french bread, followed by a yogurt, and half a Bounty bar). I was obliged to call in at the Black Bear in order to sample a pint of their Hoppy Hare, one of my favourites. Back at base, I found that it is fine to cook with enough ventilation just inside the tent, but wouldn't do it for very long and definitely only with the tiny primus stove. No noxious gases in my tent....The new sleeping back kept me toastie warm and the inflatable mattress really helped, I actually got a fair bit of sleep. Loved waking up early and making coffee whilst sitting outside and listening to the dawn chorus.
Breakfast was also cooked in the rain (porridge, yogurt (they were on offer), banana) and I was thinking Sunday was also going to be wet. However, the weather perked up no end as I was packing up the rucksack and the tent was dry by the time I was ready to decamp. That makes life easier, methinks. As it turned out, the sun shone the whole of day and I enjoyed a superb walk down to the coast via Lulworth Castle (stopped for lunch - apple, pasty and the other half of the Bounty bar), then the exceedingly steep up, up, up Arish Mell and down, down, down to Mupe Cove and on into Lulworth Cove. The hills were not as bad as I was expecting with the full pack, so I was pleased with that. Actually, I found trudging across the shingle beach harder than Arish Mell! Pete took the piccie of Lulworth Cove as he was waiting for me to arrive. The sea was an amazing turquoise colour which you can't really see and I wished I could have gone for a swim. But I didn't have a cozzie and was not quite brave enough to treat the beach goers to the sight of me in my knickers and sports bra!! Was grateful for the flask of coffee that Pete had brought for me, not to mention for the lift home and his patience while waiting for me to make my way across the hills to meet him. Home in time for tea and to unpack the rucksack and give everything an airing before next outing. That will be the second half of the Stour Valley Way, 32 miles from Blandford Forum to Stourhead which I'll walk and camp over three days middle of September. Meanwhile, Mum is coming down from St. Helen's for the Bank Holiday weekend and then it's the Bournemouth Air Festival the weekend after that. Busy times!