Day 9: Dorchester to Burton Bradstock

Little did we know what was in store for us as we left St Genevieve's Convent at Dorchester! Our first stop, Mass at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St Michael in High West Street.

Then out of Dorchester to the South, to Maiden Castle, a magnificent ancient hill fort. I'm sure this picture was taken on another occasion, as my recollection is of a thick mist!

Having traversed the fields on a compass bearing, we eventually found ourselves at the Hardy Monument (dedicated to the admiral not the writer). Look, I said it was misty!

From the Hardy Monument, it's a fairly rapid descent to Portesham and the Kings Arms.

After lunch, prayers at St Peter's before setting off through the summer flowers

The early afternoon walk used an old railway line - here the old locomotive shed is being put to good use. (Train noises please, Julian)

The railway took us to Abbotsbury, where we climbed up Chapel Hill (usual delays at the kissing gates)

At St Catherine's Chapel on the top of the hill, we formed a circle and prayed.

before descending on the other side

The views along the coast, here with Chesil Beach and Portland in the background, were spectacular.

Our route took us onto Chesil Beach - and someone for an unplanned swim?

Those who are this era will remember the Cornetto advert with its jingle "Just one Cornetto, give it to me". Somewhere along Chesil Beach we found an ice cream van, and formed a queue. The family at the front of the queue were not pilgrims, and asked for a Cornetto. As one, the pilgrims burst into song!

Eventually our route brought us to the Othona Community House, a mile out of Burton Bradstock, where we were to stay the night in the old chapel. It was a bit of a squash! The majority were accommodated in the main chapel on a stone floor, though some of us were in the choir loft. However, although we had a wooden floor, you had to keep your wits about you as there were all sorts of things to hit your head on if you sat up!