On this bay there are five kinds of rock, all of which were formed underneath waters of one kind or another. Knowing the conditions under which the rocks were formed, you have an idea of the vast changes in environmental conditions that have taken place in this small area over millions of years: Portland Stone - shallow, warm, sub-tropical sea; Wealden Beds - the flood plain of braided rivers; Purbeck Beds - shallow lagoons and swamps; Greensands - marine environment; Chalk - warm tropical seas. The rock forming process here also includes the clashing of continents, resulting in a folding of the rocks, which resulted in different rock types on the surface, leading to the creation of bays and headlands.
On the way up, we passed a gentleman walking in the opposite direction who looked as fit as the proverbial fiddle and who depressed us by telling us he was in his mid-seventies. Watching him descend the hill he seemed to bounce from hillock to hillock. For the rest of the day I just kept reminding myself he wasn't carrying a pack or else I would have packed up and gone home!
I find when I am doing this kind of walking (long distance) that it is not usually the big climbs that get me. Generally, I respond to the challenge of them and can feel good when I have bested them. It is the days when you are constantly walking lower level hills hour after hour that can floor you. I remember walking one of the undercliffs on the South Coast that consisted of a series of small rises over seven miles. Admittedly, with rain the ground was muddy and slippy, making walking difficult but that seven miles of constant up and down in close and hot conditions nearly killed me.
Although I walked the day in shorts and t-shirts, the sun never actually put in an appearance. However, it was a very warm and close day and on exertion, particularly on the very steep climbs, the close heat was almost unbearable . The result was plenty of water stops, even though we knew it was lengthening an already long day. Fortunately, the foot paths were good which certainly makes the walking that way bit easier. With a Morton's Neuroma on my left foot, I cringe when we come to rocky, stony paths because it means I have to be very careful with foot placement. Even with big, thick-soled walking boots, a sharp stone pressing on the neuroma sees me leap six feet in the air; when you are walking on the cliff edge it is the last thing you want.
Our route took us right to the end of the bay, almost to where the pleasure pier is located. Just before the pier, we turned off the promenade to walk through the town to access Town Bridge, which would take us across the waterway to access the causeway to Portland. There has been a bridge on the site since 1597, with the current bridge being the sixth to be built. Completed in 1930, it was opened by the then Duke of York, who was later to become King George VI. The bridge is currently scheduled to be lifted every two-hours to allow the passage of ships and other sailing craft.
The Isle of Portland itself is approximately four miles long and one point seven kilometres wide. To the left of the causeway as you walk in, is the huge Portland Harbour, one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. With a wonderful steely-blue light over the water, we enjoyed great views back over to the hills and cliffs we had walked today and over the previous couple of days. As we walked, however, the weather began to close in and before we finished we needed to look out the waterproofs. We were staying Air bnb in Portland and our accommodation was located at the bottom of Fortuneswell, just as you enter the town. When we arrived, our hosts were very welcoming and before long we were sitting chatting over tea in the kitchen as if we were best friends.