title Corfe Castle Camping - 29th - 31st May 2004
intro Nosher blows the fascist popsicle stand that is life to sort his head out and escapes for a bit to the south coast, and an area he hasn't been to since school and geology field trips: Swanage, Lulworth and Corfe Castle. Part of the reason is also to meet up with old chum Sean, Michelle, Rowan and god-daughter Sydney Jessica. Nosher drove 250 miles in less than four hours without even arranging where to meet up, but flukily bumped in Michelle and Syd outside the campsite's reception building. Talk about planning...
dcp_9955 Shortly after arrival I meet up at Sean's Scumavan!
dcp_9956 Sean, Micky and baby Rowan
dcp_9958 Nosher is left holding the baby. Rowan's so well behaved, even Nosher could imagine having one :-)
dcp_9960
dcp_9965 Sean, with new number-3 haircut, brandishes some barbequed marshmallows on sticks
dcp_9966 Syd stays up late and mills around, generally not sleeping much
dcp_9969 Next morning, following the obligatory fry-up. The entire campsite (which was not small) was busily engaged in more-or-less the same activity
dcp_9971 Meanwhile, Sean does the same thing in his caravan
dcp_9972 Rowan peers over the top of his crib
dcp_9973
dcp_9974 Norden Farm campsite is on a working farm: some of the cuter animals are kept near the entrance to entertain the kids
dcp_9976 The High Street of Corfe
dcp_9977 Looking towards the castle over the top of the Greyhound Pub from the Churchyard
dcp_9979
dcp_9981 Inside the castle compound. It was deliberately destroyed by parlimentarians in the English Civil War
dcp_9982 From the keep, looking out over the town
dcp_9984 Nosher was the first one to the top when it opened, and had the place to himself for five or ten minutes, which was a bonus
dcp_9987 The Swanage steam train trundles by in the valley below
dcp_9989 The main keep
dcp_9991 The gatehouse
dcp_9992 Nosher ventured off for a 25-mile bike ride through some very hilly terrain to Durdle Door and back. First stop: the church of St Peter's at Church Knowle
dcp_9995 The route goes through the centre of the Ministry of Defence's Lulworth live-firing Range. Red flags signify UXBs or something
dcp_9996
dcp_0001 Another photo courtesy of the self-timer at the top of Povington Hill. Fantastic views in all directions (at the expense of some steep hills). This also marks the 10,000th photo on this camera!
dcp_0002 Another view, with Poole Harbour in the far distance
dcp_0003 The trusty Marin and Nosher's bow-tied rucksack pose for a shot
dcp_0004 First pub stop is the lovely Castle Inn at West Lulworth, complete with giant game of chess outside
dcp_0005
dcp_0006
dcp_0008 The gorgeous Man O' War Bay is the reward at the half-way point. Not often the seas around the UK look that nice
dcp_0010
dcp_0013 Looking down towards Durdle Door
dcp_0014
dcp_0015
dcp_0018 With nothing to prop the camera on for a self-portrait, a shot of Nosher's feet has to suffice to say "I was here"
dcp_0019 Looking along the cliff towards Bat's Head with a collie on the beach herding a ball
dcp_0023 A load of jet-bikers turn up
dcp_0025 Back at the top of the cliff
dcp_0027
dcp_0028 Looking back along the South West Coastal path...
dcp_0029 ...and on towards Lulworth Cove and the infestation of cars
dcp_0031 Lulworth Cove
dcp_0032 Back at The Greyhound in Corfe for a bit of a beer festival moment
dcp_0033 250 miles from Suffolk, and they even have Adnams' "Regatta" available
dcp_0034
dcp_0035
dcp_0036
dcp_0038
dcp_0040 Later on, meeting back up with the gang, Grandma Jean and Bob turn up for a barbie
dcp_0041 Syd does some more "I'm not sleeping" milling around
dcp_0044 Bob tries to scare her to bed by exposing his torso
dcp_0046
dcp_0047 On the final morning: tent city at 7.30am
dcp_0050
dcp_0051 Michelle sorts out breakfast for the sprogs