What a way to wrap up my visit to Dorset! Paul, who gave me the fossils, suggested I visit Portland and it was a very good call, although I have no idea how he worked out the weather.
I took the bus to Weymouth where the beach was being whipped with winds so strong the extremely fine beach sand was instantly everywhere, even my mouth.
The first thing great about Portland is the buses. Every 10 minutes! And considering the hills, a great help. I started my visit at the oldest building in the city, The George Pub (King George III seems to be one of the most popular pub/inn names in England)
Quick aside, this is a great poster!
Portland is known for it’s limestone, some of the hardest in the world and can be found in the Taj Mahal and most of Edinburgh. At one point there were over 6, less now but still in operation. The informative barkeep in the George told a story about bunnies, or conies or *abbits. See back in the day these burrowing mammals could so weaken the lime that they would cause cave-ins killing many miners so superstition has it that the more common word beginning with “r” is never spoken. He then directed to the coast walk with the lighthouse “Portland Bill” in the distance.
I was surprised to find something named Pennsylvania Castle here in Portland until I learned that it was built by the grandson of William Penn, founder of the US state Pennsylvania. Built in the late 1790’s it is now a private residence.
Unfortunately the gallery in this old drill hall was closed.
The views from the highest point in Portland are breath-taking and for once you can get to a great view by bus! I of, course, didn’t but I took it back as walking down would have probably blown out my knees.
Chesil Beach is located on the South coast of England in the county of Dorset. It is a pebble beach 18 miles long and stretches north-west from Portland to West Bay (where I walked a few days back). For much of its length it is separated from the mainland by an area of saline water called the Fleet Lagoon. Unlike most of the Jurassic Coast this bit is only 20,000 years or so old.
Now for a real adventure. I’m to be in Edinburgh in two days and have no idea how I’ll get there and can’t book a room for Saturday & Sunday until I know.
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Hi Bill
I’ve only looked at a few day’s worth of your postings so far. You have certainly been to some amazing places. What strikes me most, though, is that you’ve run into so many interesting and helpful people. I seem to have trouble getting more than a grunt from the people I meet when travelling. Not sure whether that’s on them or me.
Anyway I will catch up with your postings soon. Right now my Mary’s husband Arnulfo is in Guatemala at what we hope is the last stop on a long and frightful path to a green card. Mary and her twins are living with us for a month so my free time is limited.
Bob