16th DEC. ABBOTSBURY to ISLE OF PORTLAND ( near Southwell, Church Ope Cove car park)

We started late due to me waking at 2.30 and blogging. It was 7.20 and we had over slept. We did not have breaky but got packed up and on way. A few showers last night but all was dry now including the tent.
We walked over Linton Hill and down Merry Hill. It was fairly muddy as we trod sheep chewed up paths and next to farm land wet fields. We skirted Langton Herring but as the ground was so wet and flooded by the Chesil Lagoon we resorted to backtracking and walking the road. In Langton Herring we sat in a bus shelter having porridge and tea,  we were not disturbed as no bus service ran on a Sunday. We puzzled over a seaside muriel painted on the inside,  was it done by an adult or the local primary school.
Walking on J said he was not feeling to good,  he thinks he drank to much unboiled clay water. He looked tired and I must admit the smells coming from his side of the tent indicated a problem somewhere.
We stuck to the road as low lying paths were a mud fest, slippery and incredibly wet.
The B road to Charlestown was not to busy and fairly straight,  it was nice having traction and ease of walking.
We had only £1.70 on us so could only buy a drnk each in a local shop, we were 1p sort for a cheap bar of choc, try as I might I could not find a penny in the depths of my pack.  J always ridiculed me for picking up pennies,  maybe his tone will change.
We used the  phone to find an atm , one was on route 5 mins away a Tesco Express. We purchased a dozen mince pies eating them all trudging down the road. Incredibly high in calories,  250 per mince pie. Ideal for us!
We walked the streets of Wyke Regis to Ferry Bridge, the gateway to the Isle of Portland. I felt it was a shame it was connected to the mainland and formed part of our walk as it seemed a dog leg to our route. Saying that I found the place different and varied in subject.  We watched Red Breasted Mergansers and Brent geese near the  visitors centre. J more concerned with finding the loo. I washing the pots there.
The single road going to the island,  the A354 seemed heavily patrolled by Police. We observed an unmatked car pull over two vehicles in the short time it took to walk and into Chesil.
We walked into Fortuneswell,  the north end of the Isle feeling a little threatened by some dodgy looking youths. J keep pointing to buildings asking if it was the prison I had mentioned. Alot of buildings here do look prison like,  even some of the housing estates looked that way, an industrial estate and the MOD base near Portland Bill.
We had a fair climb up to the flat escarpment and cliff on the West cliff. Signs of quarrying were every where,  massive chunks of Portland stone littered the land. It would of made excellent pitch sites however we wanted to get on.
The isle seems to have a fair few horses,  in fields of rank wet land, some tethered gypo style next to council estates, we took a wide berth.
The cliff top walk was not to bad,  flat,  in places grass existed but it was wet and clay muddy. The cliff faces had wheeling fulmars and some perched snug on the multi faside cliff face. It must be quite a sight in spring when kittiwakes etc. return to nest.
We had a false Portland Bill moment as a lighthouse is present near by on the west tip however we continued a short way to spot the red and white erection of the famous Portland Bill lighthouse.
We had experienced a fair few showers today,  and with a heavy looking one in bound we headed for the Lobster cafe near the lighthouse and drank a coffee until it passed. I nipped out to take a pic of the Pulpit rock and as it was 3.30 headed north on the east side of the island. It was alot lower this side and the fields with more weather hardy horses seemed wetter.
The path eventually took us onto a road just passed Southwell and at a car park above Church Ope Cove we found a quiet spot to pitch. The wind was coming from the SW so was pleased to be this side of the island.
We brewed a tea after pitching and played comedy sketches on our phones,  educating J to Monty Python. Only nuttella sandwiches for tea. Not a bad days walking 18 miles.