Our start was slightly later than we wanted because I had left my Garmin GPS with the site manager for recharging and we needed to wait until the office opened at 9.00am to retrieve it. Without the Garmin we would not have the nice wee maps that go at the top of the journal entries. Having packed up the tent and sleeping equipment, we spent the remaining time making and eating porridge for breakfast and checking out our route. As we left the campsite we reminded each other that we needed to withdraw money from the wee man in the wall, as our cash reserves were pretty low.
Coming out of the gardens we reminded ourselves of the need to withdraw cash.
- It is a never a day's walking without it finishes with a challenge and moving on from St Aldhelm's Head the challenge is the set of steps that take you up and down Emmets Hill and West Hill (about eight hundred of them over three hills). While it is hard going with a forty-pound pack, there is a wonderful sense of achievement when you finish it off. Standing at the top of the climbs the reward is beautiful views over Chapman's Pool (where you can find great fossils) to the Kimmeridge and beyond. The scenery here was truly stunning with a clear blue sky pressing down on us, the sun in our face and unsurpassed beauty in our eyes to the furthest horizons. The colour contrasts of the blue skies, the green rolling hills, almost cobalt black rock faces caressed by a wonderful aquamarine sea created a wonderful sense of joy and gratitude for the opportunity to see and exerience it on such a glorious day.
"Rest awhile and reflect that we who are living can enjoy the beauty of sea and the countryside".
As I stood there I remembered my older brother, Andrew, who served with distinction in 59 Commando, Royal Marines in Libya, Cyprus and Ireland and whose life was so cruelly and drastically cut short very soon after he left military service. It is impossible to stand there and not appreciate that others gave and continue to give their lives that we might enjoy our way of life.
After we returned to camp we went through our jackets, coats, trousers, rucksacks, anywhere that could harbour coins and eventually managed to get enough money together that we could buy a hamburger each at the barbecue stall in the field and still have enough left to buy an egg roll for breakfast the next morning. I can tell you it was poor fare. Still, we could make our own tea and coffee and the world never looks too bad if you have a cup of javva.