June 27th: West Bay to Weymouth

Leaving my friends Jane and Ivor

Day 28 marked my second departure from Beer, as my wonderful friends, Ivor and Jane, picked me up from West Bay yesterday and took me back there this morning to continue my walk. I had two very good meals out with them during my stay, and they very kindly treated me to both! I love you both very much, thank you for looking after me!

After saying my goodbyes, I set off from West Bay. I had to head inland across a sprawling golf course because of cliff falls, which had made sections of the path dangerous and impassable. 

I eventually arrived at Hive Beach which runs into the extraordinary Chesil beach which is an impressive 18 miles long!!

I walked about 3 miles on the shingle beach which was really hard work, compounded by the continuing pain in my shin.

Chesil Beach

Running repairs.... and beer

Thankfully I was able to join a path that ran alongside the beach providing a much-needed respite from the physically taxing shingle. This path led me into Abbotsbury, where I took a break, had a beer and did some more running repairs on my leg. The ice and hot rub was enough to help me make it to the end of the day.

After Abbotsbury, I was once again redirected due to cliff falls, which forced me to venture well inland for several miles. This unexpected diversion led me to Fleet Nature Reserve, a waterway inside the long Chesil Beach.

Inland Coast Path!

I arrived at Ferrybridge and made my way into Weymouth to my Bed and Breakfast for the night. By this point in the day, it had become really hard to walk on my leg and it was a further 2.5 miles from Ferrybridge to my accommodation, so I walked 24 miles today... and I can feel it. I have iced, hot rubbed and massaged it and am praying it gets me through again tomorrow. With the beach walking, the inland walking and the nature reserve walking, I did not greatly enjoy today. Everything crossed for a better day tomorrow.

Looking ahead, I need to return to Ferrybridge tomorrow morning before I can begin my trek. As I will be walking around the Isle of Portland, I have decided this means a taxi to Ferrybridge in the morning to start my walk, walk around the whole of Portland, then a taxi back to my B&B in Weymouth before carrying on from there. If I don't get these couple of taxis, I'll be adding an extra 5 miles to my day tomorrow, miles that I have already covered today, and that doesn't feel necessary or wise...