Wasps and holiday makers

This is the first day of the school holidays so I suppose we have to expect the holiday makers. But more drivers not sure of where they are going makes life a bit more of problem on the roads. Have to get up earlier, I suppose.


There was the usual hold up at the ferry to wait for Contentin to leave Poole. This is a new cargo route that only operates at the weekend to Cherburg, apparently, but it seems to coincide with the chain ferry at 9:00 most Saturdays. Then off to Swanage and the hills. Usual route through Langton Matravers to Corfe Castle. We were there earlier in the week (not on the bike though) and found an excellent model village which we didn't know about.

Then back towards Studland. There are some lovely views over Poole harbour from that road and it's beginning to seem less uphill than it was at first.



Then back round to Swanage and back to the ferry via Ulwell. There is more of a climb on that that road than I remember from the last time I did it. Time for a loop round Canford Cliffs and back to Sandbanks before getting home. 52 miles altogether which makes 197 in the week. I did think about doing another 3 miles to make a round figure, but this was the longest ride in the hills so far and I chickened out. Besides which, about 10 miles before getting back, I was attacked by a wasp, or maybe a bee - didn't see which - so I wanted to get some anthistan on the sting. It got me just below the helmet - if it had been a couple of mm higher, it would have been OK.