Weymouth!

Wednesday 20th August

Return train fare to Weymouth (normally £42) for £15?? YES!!

So, had to be off-peak, so not early an early start and before South West Trains ended the offer, that very Friday.

Two and a half hours journey, each way.

Lots to look at in LARGE

Got there and I had absolutely no idea that this particular day was the day of Weymouth Carnival - the beach, with it's famous Victorian Esplanade was a solid wall of bright bouncy castles, fun-rides, huge tacky stalls and people, all jostling and jousting. As for the beach, well, don't go there!

My head nearly caved in from all the jostling and competing noise, with rides and stalls, the Radio (I forget now which station) broadcasting live and the stage on the beach which were hosting some kind of talent contest. I wanted to give the poor donkeys tied up that usually give quaint and traditional rides on the beach (riders had to be no more than 7 stone, I noted, so that's me out, my an ounce or two!) earplugs!

Used my 10-24mm Nikkor for shots of that and then went into the town, where just as many people were. I hadn't realised Weymouth was so big! Mind you, I'd only been there once before, at least on a proper photographic trip. Used same lens for some of those.

Then went round to the northern pier, which is in effect, a long concrete breakwater. The 'buildings' on it have been closed and sealed up, due to asbestos, I think it said. You get great views over the bay and toward the beach from there. Then, some WW1 bi and tri planes went over. These were replicas, it should be noted. Had to get shots of those. Did NOT use the 10-24mm Nikkor for them....

It was cold and grey and blowy out there, so wandered back in for food. It was so much more quiet and social around by the Old Harbour, which is my favourite part and runs at an angle behind the seafront. It was relatively quiet and so many families (all of the south of England's, I think) with every child crabbing with nets or eating, sitting along the water's edge. It was lovely to see, everybody on holiday.

I got this shot in that area. I'm on the far side. It's quite a walk and is on the way to the south pier, which is an even longer concrete breakwater than its sister. It juts right out and has a little kind of crow's nest viewing platform on the end. I got there about 5pm and masses of people filled that platform and came and set up picnics.

Why? At 5.30, we were treated to the Red Arrows. Not for 5 minutes, but 20. Right over our heads and right over Weymouth, Portland and every point between. I had the poor D7000 on 6fps 'hi-drive' and zoomed in with my Tamron SP 70-300mm. Lots of lots of not so good, quite good and even some very good pics.

At every point of the day could I have blipped something (I thought) worthy of a Blip. Certainly the Red Arrows but they have been flying all over the country, doing several shows per day. And others have Blipped them.

Therefore I have chosen this. The light is good, the colours and the variety of sailing vessels wide. The lens not too wide (Nikkor 16-85mm VR). It's not too twee, either - there were certainly lots of pretty fishing boats, just looking two neatly placed, they did get snapped too, of course!

Got aboard the 7pm train where the Rail Police were out in force. (I'd missed the carnival procession, as that was at 6.30 and I was still walking back from the south pier then). I asked why all the security? Well, it was Weymouth's biggest day of the year and many thousands would have been imbibing on something stronger than tea.

Well, I can believe it was their biggest day - I had taken 700 shots (including all those airshow ones) and didn't get home til 9.30pm. Long, exhausting but enjoyable day. And Weymouth isn't always like this, I should add!

Thanks to all for looking at my portrait of artist Fred. He only went up this morning (I have to het up to date!) so if you haven't said hello to him, just go back one.