Somerset and Dorset

Drove Ela over the Prince of Wales Bridge, the new name for the M4 Severn Estuary bridge, quite an experience, very high up over a massive sea, glad it wasn't windy.

I was having a quick stop over in Cannington, Somerset - to see my friend Sheila, we had a lovely visit and shared a bottle of red wine in the pub with our tea - needless to say I slept soundly.

I was parked under a beautiful oak tree - which was a wee bit of a worry, but the branches stayed just where they were supposed to.

Heading down to Dorset for three nights, to fulfil an ambition of walking on Chesil Beach, which I have done, I volunteered on a litter pick on the beach and collected several pieces of colourful nylon rope, a large piece of rusty metal, a broken fluorescent tube and a broken sea buoy. More trawler rubbish than tourist rubbish.

Chesil Beach is an 18 mile long strip of beach that has crashing waves on one side and a calm lagoon, East Fleet, on the other. It is made up of pebbles and is the largest stretch of beach of this type in the UK. The pebbles at the Portland, Weymouth area, are larger than the pebbles that are at the other end, which is at Bridport. Chesil beach has been formed naturally and it is stunning see photographic evidence. The sea was too wild for swimming and besides a sign said it was not allowable.

The lagoon is home to lots of birds and the geese and swans are really noisy, they made such a racket last night. And when they are quite I can hear the crashing waves onto the pebbly beach. The campsite is next to an army military base and I can hear riffle practice this morning.

I have been out and about on my bike for a couple of days exploring, and walked more of the coastal path too.

The campsite is really good, and the sunsets from the little beach here have been amazing. There is a campers shop with all sorts of unimaginable camping must haves, bought a second camp chair, which is great for resting my feet on, but will be for Dawn when she is travelling with me.