Campy gets a face lift!

Wednesday 19 September

We had to get up early today as we needed to get to Portland in Weymouth by 12.00am. Campy was booked in to have a new grille and spoiler fitted. We had breakfast and loaded the remainder of our things in Campy and set off at 8.00am. 

As always, it is very nice to have a break from Campy, but it is always great to get back on the road. After all Campy is our home and it felt really good to know that the van was so sorted and clean throughout. It was a trouble free journey and we made good time. Stephen took us along the coast road down to Weymouth and we stopped for a coffee on a lay-by looking down on Chesil Beach. The weather was glorious and the sun glistened on the sea. 

11.30am we arrived at the Vanworks and Campy was handed over to the care of the staff for the work to be carried out. It only took three quarters of an hour to to the work and she came out into the sunlight like a swan in new feathers. We love the upgrade and whilst we were there we saw all sorts of wonderful ideas for the future....maybe!

Before....

After....

By now we were hungry, as we were on Portland we drove up the hill to the top and parked up on a free car park overlooking Chesil Beach from the opposite end to that we had having coffee earlier. It was great and we enjoyed a short walk along the top of the hill taking in the views and photographs.

After lunch we drove back down the hill and along the narrow spit of land that connects Portland to Weymouth to a visitor centre and car park. From the car park there is a new wooden bridge that goes over a stretch of water that gives access to the beach itself. 

Chesil Beach is the most extensive and extraordinary accumulation of shingle in the world. It is not man made, nor as popular belief would have it , thrown up by a single night by a raging sea. In geological terms Chesil Beach was formed quite recently, 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. When it melted and the sea stabilised, a bank of pebbles 17 miles long, 200 metres wide rising to a hight of 13 metres was formed extending from Bridport to the foot of Portland.

The pebbles are amazing, the bank increases as they move towards to Portland and so does the size of the pebbles thanks to the westerly waves hitting the beach at an angle pushing and rolling the shingle inwards and along the to the south-east. Strange though it may seem it is the larger pebbles which move the most in stormy seas as they stand proud on the beach offering more resistance to the waves. Only when pebbles meet a mate of its own size is it likely to stay put.

We did wonder why there weren't  many people walking on the beach but soon found out why, the going is quite tough on the beach as the pebbles really slow you up. It’s also quite noisy so as spectacular as it is we had a nice short walk and returned to the visitor centre.

Now, those who know us well enough, will know we are rather partial to good well made coffee. We were surprised and delighted to see in the cafe of the visitor center an Electra Coffee Maker. We couldn’t resist it so 2 Americano’s were ordered and were fantastic. I include a photo of an Electra we saw at the Eden Project.

The CL we are on now is probably the best we have been on so far. Cowslip Cottage, Coldharbour, Chickerill in Dorset. It has spotless showers and toilet block, a washing machine, electric and a lovely view over the valley to sheep filled fields on the opposite side. We had a set up camp put the chairs and drank a G&T admiring Campy’s new face.


Helloooo.... ding dong.....!

A great day.....

Tuesday 18 September

This is our last day here at the lodge and we spent it doing final preparations for moving on to Weymouth. The Van was given a good clean and polish in readiness for its face lift tomorrow at Vanworx in Portland. We did a bit of last minute washing (and wait for it...) ironing, packed our bags and loaded it all in ready to go. 

We are so grateful to Sarah and Michael for allowing us to use the lodge it has been very restful and we have used the time wisely making sure we are ready to go to Spain. So, thanks again and don’t forget you are welcome to come and visit us in Riogordo.