Driving down to Dorset

So on Saturday 14th June, we set off for Dorset, we didn't leave very early, we had done most of the packing, I had ironed and cleaned, but there are always those little things, 'Ooh, mustn't forget the binocs, now where is my camera tripod', etc etc. Eventually the car was all packed to overflowing, and we hadn't even packed beach chairs. We still managed to forget a couple of things. I should have checked last years list which I wrote down in a book.
We didn't get very far before we hit congestion, yes you've guessed, M25 Heathrow. We crawled along, and that was probably when I said, 'Oh no, I didn't pack such and such.' for the first time. Eventually we made it to Fleet, where we bought Waitrose sandwiches, and drinks, and ate and drank in the car. We got coffee and hot chocolate from the  Costa machine in Smiths. The cups are a sort of corrugated paper, and as we approached the till, husband managed to squeeze his, and burnt his hand, spilling coffee. From what the cashier said, it happens a lot, in fact they had just finished cleaning up the last lot. She offered him a burn easing disposable cloth, but he still ended up with a blister.
We resumed our journey, and were soon travelling at a much faster pace than before. Eventually we stopped at Wareham, having discovered that is the nearest place with a Sainsbo's. The car park was a bit tight, but we coped, bought food for the weekend, and we got a refund on the parking too.
The satnav differed from the printed instructions which I had received to find the bungalow we were renting in Swanage, but we found  our way eventually, driving up a very steep, very long hill, then down a bit, till the signs said we had reached Durlston Country park. The bungalow was just opposite a a gate leading to woodland and the coastal path. I found the key,and soon we were inside, inspecting the rooms, and unloading all our belongings, food, and loading the fridge. It was about then that husband realised he had forgotten his Netbook. Being the generous soul that I am, I said he could share use of my laptop.
We had decide it would be easier to walk into the town, and find a fish and chip shop. Not hard to do, but as we walked down the steep hill, realisation dawned that we would have to climb it on the way back. Husband's personal  GPS recorded that we actually climbed 175 feet in .4 of a mile!   The overall distance being at least .6. We found 2 chippies next to each other, and decided on the one with tables outside. Husband had cod, and I had fishcake. We looked around a bit, there were several children sitting on the quayside trying to catch crabs. They were obviously from a school,and were the first of many groups that we would see, wherever we went. Eventually, we decided we could put it off no longer, and began the steep climb back up. We made it without either of us collapsing, watched some TV, which meant channel hopping to avoid football.
Then we discovered the bed was actually comfortable, it was a Relyon with a sprung base, and a soft mattress, and we slept reasonably well. Due to the position of the bedroom, at the side with no street lights it was about as dark as can be, the only light coming on if we sat up was the room sensor for the burglar alarm.
Next morning we had breakfast then decided to try and find the little EFCC church in nearby Corfe castle. I had checked the local Baptist church website, and it didn't look to be our taste in the musical side of worship.
We parked in a car park. near the little local cemetery, which was called God's little acre, and walked through to the church. The congregation was mostly old ladies, but the have a fairly new pastor, a retired baptist minister, who has moved from Christchurch. The hymn book was Mission Praise,and because it was father's day he had chosen a few probably now quite dated modern songs about father.
His sermon was reasonable, and we stayed afterwards for coffee. One old lady was chatting to me, and it seems that she is a refugee from the Swanage baptist church, 'which has grown too big, and impersonal,and they have noisy music with drums, and people falling over.' I sympathised. I get very nervous when people start doing that sort of thing in church, most people who feel the need to fall over in church seem to collapse suddenly on to their backs. When people in the bible fell down, it was on their faces, before God.
However, I digress. We drove back to Swanage, admiring the castle as we went,and saying we must go there to visit.
Lunch over we both fell asleep. The later I did the Telegraph crossword from Saturday. There was no evening service, but we'd had a day of rest. Later still we ventured out across the road, through the gate, and along the woodland path which leads to the coastal path. We ventured along to the castle, then until we were in sight of the lighthouse. It was too cloudy for a sunset,and we're not sure how good it would have been as Swanage actually faces East, but Durlston Lighthouse is to the South. we walked back to the cottage and had a late tea, which of course included scones and clotted cream.

Peveril point

Durlston Castle

Durlston Bay

Durlston Lighthouse

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