And your Amalfi Drive. Seen 'em, driven 'em, not a patch on our very own amazing, fantastic, stunning - er, B3157! Alright, I admit that 'B3157' doesn't have quite the ring of La Grande Corniche but even so, in gentle English terms it has its views:
Chesil Beach looking east towards Portland Bill showing the strange, naturally-made Fleet Lagoon. According to Wiki, the Fleet was used during WWII to test the bouncing bombs deployed on the dam-busting raids. The shingle beach is about 18 miles long and is known today as 'the Jurassic Coast' although to date I have failed to spot any dinasours!
That's what it looked like yesterday from the, er, B3157. Bloody lovely, and please, all you working stiffs, stuck in your offices, or in a jam on the M25, I was thinking of you, really I was, in fact, I nearly fell out of my deck-chair laughing!
This is the view looking at the western end of the beach at West Bay near Bridport.
Yesterday was heaven, sunshine, slight breeze and best of all - all the little kiddie-winkies were in school leaving the place free for old grumps like me!
Wonderful stuff. I used to live near there, so am quietly envious! Another little-known fact about Chesil Beach is that the pebbles are graded in size from one end to the other. That's what the locals say, anyway. I've only ever visited the two ends as I could never muster the energy to walk the whole length, and I could never remember the size of the pebbles at the end I last visited....
Oh, and if you have read the McEwan novel, you might need a moment's recollection so as not to disappoint Mrs. Duff the next time you celebrate your relationship...
Posted by: Whyaxye | Thursday, 29 September 2011 at 10:54
We always tend to go to Burton Bradstock in the middle because of the excellent (but now rather expensive) Hive Cafe.
No, I haven't read McEwan's novel but Mrs Duff has reconciled herself to disappointment over the years!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 29 September 2011 at 13:45
I love the whole area - wish we lived nearer.
Posted by: A K Haart | Thursday, 29 September 2011 at 13:47
Should you ever be close (around Sherborne) whilst on a visit, AK, do drop me a line. Good cup of coffee here, or even a B&B if you need it!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 29 September 2011 at 13:53
That's very kind of you DD. I'll drop you a line if we're in the area. Drop me a line too if you're ever near the Derby end of Derbyshire, although we can't compete with Chesil Beach.
Posted by: A K Haart | Thursday, 29 September 2011 at 16:41
Well, when next you're in North Queensland I'll take you on the coastal drive from Cairns to Port Douglas.
This is one of the great trips of the world.
Divine scenery and miles and miles of pristine beaches, off-shore islands, white sand, coconut trees and all.
It will actually be the right place to wear your sarong, but the socks and sandals will have to go.
We just don't allow that here. The wallabies will laugh at you.
Posted by: Andra | Friday, 30 September 2011 at 00:14
Everybody laughs at me, so no change there!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 30 September 2011 at 09:04
Oh come on. You know you don't know what a wallaby is.
Or have you found out in the last 10 minutes?
Posted by: Andra | Friday, 30 September 2011 at 09:57
Isn't that the name of your ruling political party run by that dreadful-sounding woman?
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 01 October 2011 at 08:58
No, that's the Drongos.
Posted by: Andra | Sunday, 02 October 2011 at 02:16