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We decided to have an easier day today so we used the NCN2 eastwards which was mostly quite level. We stopped at the Hardy Monument on Black Down, It's not a monument to Thomas Hardy but Sir Thomas Hardy of 'Kiss me Hardy' fame.

We carried on in to Dorchester for an early lunch, slightly curtailed by a road digger. The afternoon was lovely and sunny, easy going. We made a navigation error approaching Corfe Castle but eventually made it to a café.

We then rode over the Nine Barrow Down (sounds like we're in a Lord of the Rings book) to Durlston Head for a BCQ

Soon after we arrived at the hostel at Swanage. Bert, Sally and Charlotte arrived just after us.

Mileage 47

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It was raining steadily when we left so it was 'cape on' for me. Bertie came cycling with us while Sally and Charlotte arranged to meet us for lunch.

The rain had stopped before Studland and it was a bright fresh day by the time we disembarked from the chain-link ferry at Sandbanks.

We were following the NCN2 along the sea front but it turns out his is seasonal, it's closed during July and August. It was a struggle picking our way through Westbourne, Bournmouth and we stopped for lunch at Boscombe.

The cycle lanes ran out completely around Highcliffe so we just used the A337 to Lymington for the ferry to Yarmouth and the Isle of Wight.

We shopped in Yarmouth and used an NCN route to Freshwater where there's a large co-op. We cycled along the south cliff top road for a while then turned inland to Brighstone and another YHA hostel.

Mileage 44

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It was raining once again when we set off so we abandoned our tour of the island and instead headed north for a BCQ at Calbourne.

We then took in a tea shop at Yarmouth.

After the crossing to Lymington we had another hour or so in a café for lunch, still raining.

We eventually went out to the 'big co-op' which turned out to be a petrol station with a shop.

It had enough stuff though so we picked up supplies.

We left Lymington on Sway Road and headed over the the hostel in Burley. We arrived too early so visited another tea shop before going to the hostel. Still raining. Bah!

Mileage 23