Two bloggers in West Bay!
This may look like an idyllic scene as the sun starts to decline, but just imagine for one moment running up the nearest cliff and then continue up and down hill until you reach Dog House Hill (the first bump on the left in the distance) and then repeating most of the course again and you may appreciate what a huge achievement that would be!
I was delighted to hear a few weeks ago that fellow blogger CT from Countryside Tales was heading to West Bay to take part in the Bridport Jurassic Coast Half Marathon. As this event was part of a huge day of fundraising in West Bay, which my husband and I were already involved in, there was unfortunately only a small opportunity for us to meet to say hello.
We took Tavi along as a means of identification. This is a bit different using a rose or a newspaper but with both of us being Westie owners it seemed appropriate! I don't know whether Tavi thought that Ted or Poppy would be there but he decided to roll in some foxes poo on the cliff walk down. I'm not sure that CT or M (her husband ) and B (her friend) appreciated that jest! (You will have to go over to CT's blog to see Tavi - he was in still in disgrace with us!)
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| The first runners including M reaching the top of West Cliff |
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| The runners had to share the pathway with holiday makers going in the opposite direction. NB Tavi had helped to clear this path from Foxes poo before the start of the race! |
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| Can you spot CT's friend B? |
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| CT is leading many others! |
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| CT on the first downward stretch |
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It's difficult to see from this image but the runners were already running up to the dark green summit! |
The route of the run passed close to our home, so we sat in the garden awaiting the runners as they started the second circuit.. I'm sorry that some members of the household ( i.e. Jackson) weren't very interested in the proceedings! Tavi would have barked at all the runners but he was shut indoors!
We were delighted to see that M was the first male runner to come pass again and this position he maintained until the finish line, a great achievement. The female runner that won the race seemed to be out in front right from the start.
CT came down the field (seen above just below the horizon of the field) and she was in good spirits, we even managed a few words as she flew by!
We in the meantime, were involved in running some children's games. It was just as well CT (who is excellent at sewing) did not see my sewing attempts at creating sea creatures for a magnetic fishing game and Feed the Shark competition. It was lovely to watch the children's enjoyment and they didn't seem to notice the bad sewing and luckily nothing fell apart!
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Our achievement today, however, seemed minor in comparison!
It is always so good to meet fellow bloggers especially those who you have been in contact with for many years, it never feels as if you are meeting someone for the very first time! CT was just as lovely as she is on her blog|! We didn't really need Tavi as we recognised each other instantly despite my hair being so much lighter than recent pictures - I am attempting to go grey naturally - has anyone got any hints? One of my close friends told me just to wear a hat until it all goes grey!
I am still way behind with things (blame the sewing!) I will try and catch up and do another post this week, until then take care.
Sarah x
Well done on all your fund raising activities. Such a beautiful stretch of coast despite the hills. Lovely to have met up with CT. hats off to her for her amazing achievement. I'd still be running now :). B x
ReplyDeleteI couldn't manage the first cliff let alone another two! With the encouragement CT has given you, the title one day might be Three bloggers in West Bay! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! B can do it, I know she can xx
DeleteI'm having palpitations at the very thought lol!
DeleteHow lovely that you got to meet CT and see her run her race. I'm glad they did well, and the weather looks great too. I'm so impressed with her running, she really is doing amazingly. Tavi made me laugh. Our puppy has yet to discover the delights of fox poo. I am bracing myself! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteSome dogs seem to find the scent more appealing than others. We go on a weekly walk with our neighbours and their dogs and there is only one that regularly comes back covered. I don't need to name the culprit do I? Sarah x
DeleteWhat an adventure and blessing to meet up with another blogger! It's fun to see the face behind the comments and kindness, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteYes it is good to meet,maybe one day it could be you Anita if your dream of visiting England comes true! Sarah
DeleteWell that's pretty clever and fit! I am impressed.
ReplyDeleteThe countryside there is beautiful. It must be like meeting an old friend when you meet a fellow blogger you've read for years.
ReplyDeleteIt was strange the first time I did it. Although it is the first time meeting someone face to face, you know someone so well that you can't stop talking! Sarah x
DeleteWell you young thing you. I have only gotten gray around the front and the back portion I dye blond, so I am a two-toned skunk. Why do dogs roll in stink? My weenies love to. Though I can only run about ten feet, what a gorgeous place to run. I ran like the wind as a child.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to meet you and thank you for all the support before and during the run. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. A little stiff in the legs this morning- walking downstairs is fun! But apart from that all good. A terrific race and I'm sure we'll be back next year to do it all again, maybe a bit faster! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you aren't suffering too badly this morning, you will just have to stay downstairs all day! Thanks for all the runners there is a better track through the long grass this morning! Sarah x
DeleteA lovely report of the race! So glad you got to meet CT, I am sure that both you and she are lovely!!
ReplyDeleteGood to see the pictures. It must feel a tremendous achievement to be able to run up those cliffs - though also tempting to stop and look at the incredible view! In my new home of West Yorkshire, cycling up hills is very popular. The hills people cycle up are so steep they are hard to walk up, let alone cycle up. And some of these steep hills are cobbled too!
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard to cycle on those cobbles. Since The Tour of Britain went over Dartmoor there has been s huge increase of cyclists. I assume that has happened in Yorkshire too. Sarah x
DeleteCycling - there's Le Tour de Yorkshire . . . despite its name it's a really serious event. The little film of highlights from this year gives a bit of an idea of some of the terrain (including cobbles!).
Deletehttp://letour.yorkshire.com/film
Gabriel manages to find the fox poo in our woods, too, but we are grateful for our fox who carried off the dead skunk lying in one of woodland paths. We have a night vision, motion activated wildlife camera that captured the whole thing! We are finally going to England next year! But will not be in your neck of the woods--only in the Lake District for 8 days.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to be coming to England next year and visit the Lake District. I know how much you love that location. Sarah x
DeleteLovely stretch of coastline but I wouldn't want to run up the cliffs! Lovely to catch up with a fellow blogger & wouldn't you know it that is just the time Tavi would pick for the fox poo!
ReplyDeleteOne of our dogs rolled in poo as often as he could & always when I was in a hurry! The fund raiser looked like lots of fun hope you were able to raise lots of money from it.
Hey Sarah,
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have met CT!! Isn't it funny how we all call her that! The route looks very tough for running, I must say. But beautiful to look at in your photos. I haven't met any fellow bloggers for a little while, although lots of Instagram chums visit St Ives, so I have met up with some of them. My Mum went grey a couple of years ago. She was fed up of colouring her hair all the time. She had a cut a little shorter than she would normally, until it was all through. I think she looks lovely. It's a light silvery grey colour, and really suits her skin tone. If I should ever start to go grey, I think I'd follow her example. As a side note, my French teacher at school, Miss Hinksman, had grey hair. She could only have been in her thirties, but it always look very elegant.
Leanne xx
Well done to CT - I do admire her tenacity - I think that I would find it took me all of my time just to walk the distance she covered.
ReplyDeleteThe perennial grey hair problem is something that most of us have to face - I tend to think that it is best just to embrace it and keep it in good condition. Dying hair often seems to take the life out of it, and mostly you can tell.
One word! WOW!
ReplyDeleteHave a lazy weekend and take care...
Titti
Great! And some great photos too :)
ReplyDeleteLove from Titti
Hello, I'm so pleased to have discovered your blog: as an expat Dorsetman (in Surrey) it's so uplifting to see the landscape and images from your garden. Would I be able to use one of your beautiful pictures? I am a great partisan of one of the better-known residents of the area and have a post for my own blog related to them which this picture (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kA05VntSDh8/WYdK89ST7lI/AAAAAAAANFk/3ChVjDYcaYAvWOtKnncyMOTZGE7vB0mzgCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_0317.JPG) would be ideal alongside. In any case, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sorry for the delay in replying I have been away - I am happy for you to use my picture thank you for asking. I'm glad you enjoy seeing pictures of Dorset!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah, I appreciate that. Funnily enough I was in Dorset last week and walked to the top of the Westcliff to take the same view - my snap still isn't as good as yours!
ReplyDelete