2 - 8 May

Mon - Walked to Rootz to meet Nigel for Coffee.  In afternoon tandemed to 'The Hatch' in Little Chalfont for drinks house warming.  Managed to cycle back despite the drinks!

Tue - Bromptoned/trained to Kenington (10 miles cycling, lovely through London via Buck House in sunshine).  Cycled to Amersham via bridleway from Chenies through woods - what a find!

Wed - Emptied garage of Mum's bric a brac and cancelled lease with Council.  Walked to vill, thats the only exercise (apart from lifting boxes!)

Thu - Down to Bournemouth where The Stoker aka Dr M has a conference for a couple of days.  Took the Dahon Cadenza folding bike and a Brompton.  Cycled Cadenza along sea front to Mudiford ferry, then sat on quay at Christchurch and had a Mr Wippy icecream.  Back to Bournemouth sea front, and right along to other end to the Sandbanks ferry, then back to B&B to change and go out to conference dinner.  26 miles in about 2.5hrs cycling.  Slight sea breeze that seemed always to be a headwind! Hazy but sunny with cool air, lovely cycling weather. 

Fri - On advice of 'Guy' from the dinner last night, took the train from Bournemouth to Moreton.  Short cycle to Moreton Church and cemetery to see Lawrence's grave

Along gravelled track via ford through heathland/plantation to Lawrence's house Clouds Hill where I arrived 30 mins before opening time, so climbed over fence only to be stopped by a woman in the kiosk who was doing the accounts.  She wouldn't open up till 11, but let me see the outside:

When the volunteer guides arrived I went inside where it was been 'authentically' kept as Lawrence left it:

 On a side road to Wareham through the tank training grounds, smooth and traffic OK.  Wareham to Corfe Castle was busy, to Studlands was quieter but a few ups across Purbeck Hills (as you can see by clicking on the map below).  'Fairfields' (Auntie Madge's old hotel) is for sale and is unkempt and empty:

Lunch at Bankes Arms overlooking sea, then along Sandbanks to ferry, and back along sea front.  28 miles of a nice tour through Dorset, thanks to 'the train taking the strain'.

Sat - Recovery day.

Sun - Walk with Nigel around Chorleywood.