The View From An X53

I'm still not sure if it was a good idea to accept my neighbour's kind invitation for dinner and watch England play Algeria in the World Cup, but I did. Joy, above in her regalia, an ardent England and Manchester United fan had only asked that each guest wear something 'red & white' and enjoy the evening but if you are any kind of football fan that was a hard ask!

Geraldine, Brian, Me, Julie and Roy made for excellent company and the food was good, but the undoubted star of the show as far as the TV was concerned was a bird perched on the right goal crossbar throughout the game.

I am now of the belief that the programme's producer had set this avian visitor up knowing the England performance was going to be 'A JOKE'! It just seems too much of a coincidence that the bird in question was a Laughing Dove. Those of you who, like me, have turned into a couch potato during these games may have notice that this isn't the only bird to have caught the attention of the cameraman, the other seen feeding on the field of play, some days ago, was a Cape Sparrow, and it looked like both were juveniles.

The X53 bus service, also called the Jurassic Coast Link, runs between Poole in Dorset and Exeter in Devon, a distance of some 69 miles, and passes just a 3 minute walk from my front door.

So, with the weather being once again fine and dry I decided to catch the 07-20 for a long overdue return to Devon's main city.

Having passed through the villages of Chickerell and Portesham we passed Saint Catherine's Chapel high on the hill overlooking Abbotsbury.

The main street and church in Abbotsbury.

Abbotsbury Hill, looking back along the full length of the Fleet and to Portland in the distant and hazy background.

Passing Burton Bradstock, climbing the hill we could see the flat plateau of Golden Cap, the highest point on the South Coast of England, before arriving at

the small fishing port of West Bay.

Next came the 'market town' of Bridport, that always reminds me of a time warp as little ever seems to change there.

Colmer's Hill near Bridport, was named after the Reverend John Colmer, former rector of Symondsbury, and although only 400 feet above sea level can be seen from many locations, not least from the centre of Bridport in South Street. The trees were planted on the top of the hill around WWI and it is an extremely popular subject for artists and photographers alike.

Considered an 'iconic' landmark, it is the inspiration behind a proposal for an unusual arts and cultural building next to Tower Bridge which could be recreated next to the River Thames in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Next we wound our way down the steep hill into Lyme Regis,

and in turn caught sight of the pier which is known as The Cob. In more recent years it gained notoriety as the location for the filming of the French Lieutenant's Woman.

Just a few miles up the road we entered the county of Devon, first stop being the sleepy seaside town of Seaton. The smart little holiday resort will be familiar to hundreds, maybe thousands, of 'birders' as the place where Great Britain's only Long-billed Murrelet was seen after being found at nearby Dawlish Warren on 7th November 2006.

Beer Cliffs

Approaching the Village of Beer, Devon.

A typical Devon cottage.

Main street Beer, and finally arriving at

Exeter main shopping square. From here its worth trying to spot what is missing from most of these photographs.

The old city walls, first built by the Romans.

City Wall Chapel.

Houses in the Cathedral Quarter.

The Cathedral obscured by Fire Engine and Scaffold.

The South Tower.

Detail of ancient Mason's handiwork.

There were lots of atraction all over the city including a 'plate spinning' clowness.

Plus a few more architectural features. Restaurant.

Private house.

Fine doorway 1.

Fine doorway 2.

Burnet Patch Bridge, built 1814.

Tudor style building.

That's some 'dreadlocks' man!

Sat in the sun enjoying a Cornish (traitor) pasty and listening to 'Jellicle Cat' (name derived from TS Eliot's book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, an extremely talented Father, Daughter & Son trio. The Caute family are Jess on drums and vocals, dad Dan on just about anything that's playable including Flute & Guitar and young Ollie of bass guitar. Contact 01297-444940.