Finding fossils

Last weekend before the latest cold snap we awoke to some sunshine and decided to head west along the coast to Charmouth. It turned out to be a good decision, don't you think? It was a lovely walk along the seashore, but there is much more to see here......


The coast around Charmouth and Lyme Regis (seen in the distance) is world famous for fossils, which are easily found washed out of the cliffs and on to the beach. It is normal practice to see people holding hammers and looking closely at the stones and gravel on the beach rather than enjoying the scenery! Fossils from this stretch of coastline can be found in many museums all around the world.








The cliffs tower dark and menacing above us. The cliffs are unstable and landslips could occur at any time. When there is a landslip, many fossils hunters arrive searching in the hope of finding something unusual or big! There are least a few occasions during the year when people get stuck in the mud and have to be rescued.



The tide was out and we walked further along the coast than we had done previously, and discovered this unusual rock formation that has been weathered by the sea. What does it remind you of?


We weren't looking particularly hard but we found this imprint of an ammonite and also a belemnite.


As we headed back to the car via the heritage centre (they had a Christmas craft fair and were selling coffee and homemade cake), we looked inland where it didn't quite so blue and admired the colours of the reeds.

This week it has turned colder and we have had some frost in patches. There aren't many leaves left on the trees and it is beginning to look more like winter. We also had a lovely visit from fellow blogger Seagirl Suzie  and her husband. It is always a pleasure to meet blogging friends face to face.


This was another visitor to the Bay this weekend - he came to see the Christmas tree lights being lit! How are your preparations for the event going? I have so much still to do!

Thank you as always for the lovely comments you leave, they always brighten my day!
Sarah x




Comments

  1. CJ4 December 2016 at 21:24

    It's a fantastic coastline isn't it, absolutely amazing. Glad you've had a good week. Festive preparations are going okay here, except for one or two vital things that might not be delivered on time. Sigh. Father Christmas will have to write a letter of explanation I think. Oh it's complicated isn't it. CJ xx

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  2. Cathy4 December 2016 at 21:40

    That strange rock formation looks like a head and shoulders to me! Very fascinating place. I'd be one of those with her head down looking for fossils! Your photo of the reeds with the green pasture in the background is beautiful.

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  3. donna baker4 December 2016 at 22:10

    All that and fossils. Truly must be heaven.

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  4. Kezzie5 December 2016 at 00:33

    I must admit that I'd be fascinated to go here and see the fossils! They have them up near Whitby too and our friends there have found some incredible ones including a fossilised tortoise!

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  5. GretchenJoanna5 December 2016 at 04:30

    I've never seen anything like that rock formation. I immediately thought "E.T." !

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  6. Gracie Saylor5 December 2016 at 05:04

    Thanks for letting me enjoy the area around you...so pretty and the fossils are interesting. I also thought of a head and shoulders when I looked at the rock. Much of my holiday plans are a swirl of want-to-doos in my mind...Mercy! xx

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  7. Coastal Ripples5 December 2016 at 08:57

    I bet you are enjoying the time to go further afield on your walks. Such a beautiful and fascinating stretch of coast. The colours in the reeds are gorgeous. B x

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  8. Castles Crowns and Cottages5 December 2016 at 10:50

    That incredible formation looks like a bust in progress, as if the artist started the work on a replica of an ancient Greek god! Fascinating, your area dear Sarah. So many remnants of history on your shores!

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  9. handmade by amalia5 December 2016 at 12:30

    A beautiful beach and very rocky. Ours is completely sandy, easier to take a walk but not as much drama :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  10. Things and Thoughts5 December 2016 at 17:28

    Outstanding treasures of mother nature. Your captures are great!
    Happy countdown to Christmas for you and your family!
    Olympia

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  11. artistfriend5 December 2016 at 18:26

    I love your new header photograph Sarah. What a fascinating place to walk.

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  12. elaine 5 December 2016 at 22:32

    I have seen so many tv programmes about finding fossils on that beach - it seems you practically trip over them with every step :) Love the picture of the reeds it looks so tranquil.

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  13. Philip Strange6 December 2016 at 09:08

    You capture the beauty of the West Dorset coast very well. I also like your "blue" Colmers Hill.

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  14. Gerrie Mackey6 December 2016 at 10:53

    I've read about fossil hunting in your area...I'd be too busy watching that crumbling cliffs! I thought that rock formation looked like a sculpture of a head and shoulders

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  15. Anonymous6 December 2016 at 21:51

    It's such a great stretch of coastline. Hope you had a good time with Suzie xx

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  16. Draffin Bears7 December 2016 at 01:59

    Dear Sarah,

    I loved seeing your captures of the beauty of nature - always fun looking for fossils and exploring the coastline. Also love the new photo on your header. I am so far behind in my preparations for Christmas too.
    hope you are having a lovely week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  17. roughterrain crane7 December 2016 at 12:15

    Amazing. I have not found fossils yet.

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  18. Wendy7 December 2016 at 13:34

    Fossil hunting must be fun as a hobby. A good friend of mine and his family love coming to your area for the fossils and hope to move there one day to devote their lives to this! The coastline looks lovely in your photos, so I think it'll be wonderful for them.

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    1. Down by the sea8 December 2016 at 08:45

      I'm sure your friends if they move will find themselves surrounded by many others who have chosen that same path. Sarah x

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  19. Lowcarb team member7 December 2016 at 22:22

    Sarah, where you live - such a beautiful and always interesting coastline.

    Great to see Santa - we are hoping to get our decorations sorted this weekend.

    All the best Jan

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  20. Anonymous8 December 2016 at 20:08

    This post was such a treat for me. I have read so much about this stretch of coast (Penelope Lively comes to mind, and Tracy Chevalier's "Remarkable Creatures"), but have neither been there, nor seen photographs. Now I can better envision the layering of the cliffs and rock-strewn beach. What a magical place. Thank you Sarah.

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    1. Down by the sea9 December 2016 at 12:21

      I'm glad this post has helped you better envisage the coastline, from the books you have read. I haven't come across Tracy Chevalier's book,so will have to check this out. Thank you for mentioning it. Sarah x

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    2. Anonymous11 December 2016 at 12:46

      It's all about the fossils! If you read it, let me know what you think.

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    3. Down by the sea12 December 2016 at 08:54

      I have just ordered it from the library, so will look forward to reading it. I was only speaking to a friend yesterday who also lives in the area and hadn't come across this book either. Sarah x

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  21. Caro9 December 2016 at 01:08

    Lovely to get away and do something different in the lead up to Christmas. I doubt I'd do much walking as I'd be too busy staring at the ground in the hopes of seeing a fossil. I particularly like the head and shoulders rising from the beach - what an amazing sight! Christmas here is a low-to-no key event, the (fake) tree will hopefully go up next week as a token gesture but otherwise it will just be nice to have a break from work! Sorry if that sounds a bit bah-humbug ... but hope that you and your family have a wonderful time at Christmas! Caro x

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    1. Down by the sea9 December 2016 at 12:24

      Your Christmas sounds more like ours! It's easier in a small msrket town to avoid the excess hype of Christmas. Sarah x

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  22. HWIT BLOGG9 December 2016 at 07:48

    What a beautiful beach...I would love to take a walk there.
    Have a lovely friday!
    Titti

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  23. Rachel11 December 2016 at 17:28

    What an interesting and beautiful place! Makes me want to live close to the coast even more.

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