7.5 miles walked today
847.5 miles walked in total (10.72 average)
The forecast this weekend was dire and, with this in mind, I had a quick dash around Pompey yesterday lunchtime to get some waterproof trousers. However, when I woke up this morning, I saw blue skies and some fluffy white clouds, but at least it was dry.
I was walking at ten o'clock and the Lulworth Ranges were open today which meant I didn't need a road detour, but could follow the coast path proper. There were lots of people out which I was very pleased to see. (I heard on the radio this week that Mount Everest is covered in climbers because of its fiftieth anniversary of being scaled and that it was busier than Piccadilly Station. The same could be said of the Lulworth Ranges today!)
My first stretch was up the first of many hills this weekend and I have to say I struggled. It was very warm, so I walked in shorts and vest, but with fleece, waterproof trousers and coat in my bag just in case. I also carried two litres of water as I knew I'd need it. I had a tricky little moment when I lost the yellow marker posts - because the land is owned by the MOD and firing takes place on weekdays throughout the year, there are live shells scattered about, so no wandering off the path is permitted. I had a quick scramble up and over a ridge to regain the posts - never a good idea on dampish clay (two steps up, four steps back, etc) - but I made it, with nearly all fingernails intact, to get back up onto the path.
I made my way up Tyneham Cap and across Gad Cliff and then walked downhill to Tyneham, the village evacuated in 1943 when the Ranges were extended. From here, a track wound its way out to Worbarrow and it was here that I nearly gave up. I didn't think there was any way I'd get up the next hill - it was way beyond my capabilities. So I sat at the bottom for half an hour and worked out how I was going to tell everyone that I could no longer continue with this walk and that I was going to have to find a new hobby as I no longer enjoyed this one.
However, having said all that, I don't mind walking from one place to another or even doing a circular walk. But I resent walking somewhere, only to follow the same route back. So I determined to give Worbarrow Hill a go and, if it seriously didn't work, I'd come back down and give up.
I made it! Bloody hard work and I gave myself a huge mental pat on the back and 'phoned Sam to tell her how I was feeling. Sam, being Sam, told me to stop whingeing and just get on with it - there was no way she was going to let me give up now! (When I later told Dad it was hard, he pointed out that I've still got Golden Cap to do - the highest point on the south coast. Cheers Dad!)
I had a steep down then to Arish Mell and sat at beach level for ages, again contemplating my next hill. It didn't look as bad as Worbarrow, but I certainly didn't want to get complacent. So I did that one too! And had some chocolate to celebrate when I got to the top. The views were amazing and I was so happy to be there. I laid down in the grass for a while and told myself how clever I was!
I was on level ground from the top of Arish Mell and followed the track that led eventually into Lulworth where, true to form, it started to rain. Apparently it had chucked it down at Kimmeridge all day and my car was parked in a bog when I got there. I, however, had acquired a most attractive fuchsia pink colour on my travels and had been seriously overheating all day.
The taxi driver who took me back to my car had been the Senior Ranger for some years and told me how the Rangers used to clear the path of shells by bombing up and down on quad bikes, looking for military debris. He ventured forth the opinion that, while the MOD didn't always particularly look after their men, they more than made up for it in the care of their land.
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