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