Ah London, most beautiful of all cities…

Our hotel, the Vintry and Mercer, is small but extremely comfortable and rather stylish. We slept until after 9 and had a nice breakfast in the hotel restaurant to start the day. Let me get this out of my system right away: Lizzie has a lot of nerve, planning her 70-Year Jubilee just when weContinue reading “Ah London, most beautiful of all cities…”

Down to the Sea in…trains

Sunday was one of those London days: pretty gloomy and overcast, with a constant threat of drizzle. Undeterred, we walked across Southwark Bridge and strolled along the south bank of the Thames. Even in bad weather, the south bank always delivers: great views, great people watching, and great reminders of cultural history. Like the rebuiltContinue reading “Down to the Sea in…trains”

A Day with a Sting in its Tail

Monday, June 6 Exmouth to Sidmouth, 15.4 Miles We awoke after a great night’s sleep, had a very good breakfast but very early breakfast and were on our way. We had a long day’s walking ahead of us–a bit more than 15 miles–and a rather early dinner reservation in Sidmouth with our friends Cindy andContinue reading “A Day with a Sting in its Tail”

“Why can’t they flatten this path?”

This from one of many long distance walkers we met today. Why? Because our day started with steep ascents of three enormous cliffs. But more about that in a moment. I’m usually very careful in my planning for these long distanc walks. But I nodded this time, and selected an inn a mile and aContinue reading ““Why can’t they flatten this path?””

A Tropical Rainforest…in England?

Wednesday, June 8 Branscombe to Lyme Regis, 14.4 Miles This was walk of two halves: we spent the morning cliff walking from Branscombe through the village of Beer and on to the town of Seaton; we spent the afternoon in a remarkable nature preserve, walking through some of the densest vegetation we have seen inContinue reading “A Tropical Rainforest…in England?”

Up and over the Golden Cap

Thursday, June 9 Lyme Regis to Seatown / Chideock, 8.8 Miles After the heat–and sweat–of the day before, I popped into an outdoor outfitter, Mountain Warehouse, to buy a bandana…of course they had no idea what I was talking about. But I did get a nifty little absorbent towel that packs into a 2 inch-squareContinue reading “Up and over the Golden Cap”

Our Swan Song? A Walk Along and Above Chesil Beach

Friday June 10 Seatown to Abbotsbury, 11.1 Miles Sue and I started the day by cheating: we rode the bus three miles to rejoin our companions in West Bay (so that they wouldn’t have to wait for us, natch). Once back on the path, we were in the largest sense already on Chesil Beach. TheContinue reading “Our Swan Song? A Walk Along and Above Chesil Beach”