Day 8 - Ferrybridge to Ferrybridge (Around Portland) - 09 Dec 17

It was a cold start leaving home at 0800hrs, but the sun came up and was shining nicely when we arrived at Ferrybridge.

Paying £5 to park in a nearly empty car park on a winter's day seemed steep but we begrudgingly complied.

Wearing many layers with hats and gloves, Linda and I started our walk.
The 1st stretch was flat which was a nice gentle introduction, but you could see the Rock approaching ominously.

Fresh ready for the walk

Morning has broken

So clam, no wind

 Now when planing this walk originally, we was going to take a train from Yeovil to Weymouth, then the No1 bus to Portland National Sailing Academy which would of cut off probably at leat 1.5 miles of the walk.

So walking past this bus stop hurt and of course I let Linda know it!

Para-gliders above the rock  

Static display of a Lynx Helicopter

Portland Castle looked a bit disappointing in size!

So, we were at the bottom looking at the long climb, but being fresh I was OK, at the top of the rock I got a Heart beat reading and although very high, I was pleased it was only 13 heart beats per min more than Linda's, which isn't bad for an overweight FB....lol.

The climb begins

Still climbing, still icy.

View from near the top

Chesil beach on the left

Eventually, with at least 2 stone lost in effort. We made the top.

At the top was Verne Citadel, built between 1857-81, as Portland Harbour's main defensive fortification. Naturally inaccessible from the north and east, the south and west sides were protected with the digging of a large ditch.
The citadel was turned into a prison in 1949, becoming a Category C prison for 575 adult males, serving medium-to-long term sentences.
 In 2013, the prison closed and became an immigration removal centre for 600 detainees awaiting deportation in 2014.
Pretty bleak place as I would think Alcatraz would of been easier to escape from.
Pics below.

At the top we came across some goats then to our surprise some wallabies. Then we saw that it was Fancy's Farm a community farm that is free to enter. More Pics below:

 I was not sure if we were fenced in or the animals.

Onto Ope Church, now I thought the 1st sign I saw for this was just missing the H for Hope but no, it was Ope.

Jurassic Coastline, Weymoth to Lulworth in the distance, our previous walk.

My 2nd favourite photo from Linda

Now my favourite, 1 it has my best side....lol...2. Love how dramatic this photo is. (the rugged vegetation then the calm sea, followed by the threatening clouds).

In the middle of the island is the quarry from where the expensive Portland rock is gathered. Photo does not do the depth and vastness of the quarry justice.

Eventually as I was beginning to wilt, with the rucksack digging into my shoulders and my toes starting to get sore. (And Linda raising her eyebrows at my constant whingeing) we reached Potland's Bill and the Lighthouse. Even better was the Lobster Pot Restaurant, which from this visit alone I highly recommend.

Linda and I had the Bacon & Egg Hot Baguette and it was to die for. Waitresses efficient and friendly.
Will go again, for sure.

Linda was to slow to get a photo of the food....lol.

Linda wanted a photo with the lighthouse, this was the only shot I could get both in.

Fully refreshed and me with a hot date with my old Pool team, drinking real Ales in Dorchester, we continued our walk.

The weather seemed to get colder, the wind picked up and was biting through the clothing,
But we knew we had broken the back of the walk and was on the shorter return to the mainland.

Now we could see our destination in the distance, but twice we came across the scene below.

Closed due to rock fall

 We took the detour on the 1st but I was tiring and felt like the detour was unjust, so with a little caution I ignored the next sign. Linda followed amazingly but kept behind me.
We walked through a small built up walled area, which I said to Linda was probably were the rocks had fallen. And we should not be loud walking through.

Easy no rock fall and out the other side safe and sound.
100 yards later, the path was gone and just a drop to rocks and the sea.
Ok they did have justification to close the path, about turn and take the detour.

Strangely we forgot to take a photo, which is a shame, but I think we both wanted to get back to safety.

Decline back into Portland.

Now at this point I relayed to Linda every ache and pain that was revealing itself to me. I will see if I can recall now.
Shoulders from carrying rucksack, Back ache, groin strain both sides, but one materialised about 2 hours before the other, aching leg muscles and 5 out of 10 sore toes.
Linda on the other hand was fine and could carry on for miles!

After what seemed like an eternity from hitting the sea level to getting back to the car, I quickly changed with a squaddie shower and was dropped off at the 1st of many pubs hit in Dorchester.

One more leg and the last completed for this year.

March is going to be our next attempt, weather and of course, me permitting.