Dorset Bicycle Ride 1st-July-2015

Garry McGivern’s Dorset bicycle ride, Wednesday 1st-July-2015 Wareham to Langton Matravers. 39 miles. After failing to reach Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door yesterday, I decided to set off in that direction this morning. And this morning, I made it despite having to go up one or two rather steep climbs.

My reason for going to Lulworth Cove was to swim through Durdle Door, a huge arch that the sea has carved out over thousands of years. A friend suggested that I should do it, so you know me, any excuse to go somewhere on my bike. Durdle Door is a couple of miles from Lulworth, so after taking photos of the cove, I set off for Durdle Door. It was a bit of a steep climb to get back out of Lulworth, and I nearly regretted going down there. But I eventually made it to Durdle Door, or rather the car park on the cliffs.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get anywhere near the sea. Reaching the sea meant negotiating a steep gravel path, and even though I may have been okay going down. I don’t think I would have been able to get back up. My sciatica has started to play me up again, plus I didn’t fancy leaving my bike at the top of the cliffs. In hindsight, I should have come here last night and camped at the campsite you pass through to get to the cliff. Then I would have had plenty of time to walk down the cliff. Maybe I’ll return at some other time.

That Was A Wasted Journey

After not even being able to see Durdle Door let alone swim through it, I headed back towards Wareham, not knowing which way to head. After having lunch at the Quay in Wareham, I decided to head towards Toms Field in Langton Matravers. Unfortunately, before reaching the campsite, I stopped at the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers, a lovely little pub that sells scrumpy. And that’s where I stayed until late afternoon, early evening. Luckily it’s downhill from the pub to the campsite.

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