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.

East Side Story

Another beautiful start to another summer's day, and ideal conditions for a search for my very first Wall Lizard. Probably only laziness has stopped me recording this smart little reptile, as the site is well known and the creatures often obliging on sunny days. Starting my walk alongside one of several 'active' quarries on Portland it was just a short distance to Cheyne Weares and the 'east side' of the Island.

Coombefield Quarry

Across the road, both Whitethroat and Peregrine were already active and within a matter of minutes I was looking at my first

Wall Lizard

Some of the rock formations at the site.

Many years of water flow have left these calcium deposits.

Also in this area there were a pair of Robins feeding young as a singing Lesser Whitethroat seemed to be working its way north up the Island. Taking the East Coastal Path, I next headed for

Church Ope Cove, followed by

Rufous Castle. Built between 1432 and 1460 by Richard, Duke of York and named after William Rufous, son of William the Conqueror, it is also locally known as Bow & Arrow Castle and with so much passage of time its not surprising it needs some renovation!

Starting to climb the hill again the walker soon comes upon ancient grave stones associated with one of the 2 St Andrew's Churches built on this site. The first dates from the 13th century and was the Parish Church right up to the 18th century, but damaged by the Southwell Land Slip of 1675 much of its stone was used in the construction of St George's Church at the top of Reforne.

All of these graves bear dates from the 1700's with this one also showing scars of shrapnel from German aircraft in the Second World War.

also battle scarred.

A base of one of several columns, now lost.

This sarcophagus was of great interest to my 2 daughters as we used to discover Portland when they were children. The scull and crossbones drummed up thoughts of pirates and I would embellish the stories.

Another laying close to the one above.

Continuing up through the old church arch,

you get great views of both the church and the castle,

and later enter the only area of mature woodland on the Island.

The gateway leads to

Pennsylvania Castle, build around 1800 by John Penn grandson of William Penn who was the founder of the US State of Pennsylvania. When we first lived on Portland in 1967, it was a 'fine' restaurant since when it has been a private residence, one time the home of Mr Singh owner of New Look ladies clothes shops.

At the top of the hill and at the bottom of Wakeham is Avis Cottage (front view), named after the heroine of the Thomas Hardy novel 'The Well Beloved'.

The Museum (rear view) was founded in 1930 by birth control pioneer Dr Marie Stopes, then passed onto Council ownership and recently has been taken over by private fund holders. My fondest memories here, were taking the girls to talk with local celebrity Ned Skinner who was 51 years a quarryman, before becoming the museum curator. Now there was a man who could tell a story!

and here are a couple of 'memory jerker' photographs for Julie and Lisa, the first showing Reforne Close, their first home,

and this is No3 where both girls were born in the bedroom to the right.

Lacrimose Mountain Tanager

Stygian Owl

White-tipped Quetzal

Yellow-crowned Redstart