(Sunday 30th July 2023)
The start of our trip along(ish) The Old Chalk Way: following a geological finger of chalk from Axminster to Icklingham, Cambridgeshire (the actual route is longer).
Yesterday, we got in-position at Beer YHA, and into the mood by drinking beers (obvs). This morning, due to later logistics, we drove up to Axminster then packed ‘n strapped the bikes. A light drizzle took-to-work on our dry and wizened visages as we set off. Today’s route rising like the scaley coils of a sea monster, up and down into the distance.
After ~10 miles exemplary cycling, we feel we’ve earned a treat, and swerve off the route to sample some local yumities at Attisham Farm (thewagonhousedorset.co.uk).
We’re in Dorset, and there although not directly on our route, there are some amusing place names that should be chuckled over: Happy Bottom, Piddle River, Scratchy Bottom, Shaggs and Shitterton. We plunge and soar (ok, heave and paddle) through Evershop, Holwell, Cerne Abbas…
While I’m still chortling about names in Dorset it’s a good time to mention Mr Cerne Abbas and his 11m member. The naked giant, cut into the chalk hillside is, it seems, “Britain’s most famous phallus”. Harder to make out his facial features on the Wiki image above, but I’m thinking he’s happy. Or he was…
Today he looked like this:
And we were not the only disappointed folks at the viewpoint. Strangers were audibly sniggering at his ‘invisible’ winkle.
Nutrition and adequate refuelling are critical factors in a successful cycle trip, so we pull into the Abbas Tearooms for clotted cream scones (as eaten by Tadej Pogačar on many tours).
The facial drizzle continues. It’s knocking years off us; we’re practically teenagers… it’s also making the tails slippery. The chalky sea monster scales turn into monster, wheels-sucking chocolate brownies. My
We unequivocally storm Bulbarrow Hill (275m) then poke our way through Winterborne Stickland, to arrive at Blandford Forum. The Crown Hotel welcomes us warmly with a heady whiff of chips.