On Tour

Cycling and steam locomotion. Two threads that have, to a greater or lesser extent, woven their way through my younger days.

Getting out on two wheels reached it’s heyday for me when I joined a local group, the Wayfarer’s Cycletouring Club, which had recently formed that same year, 1983. There was already a local club, Vectis Roads (that can trace it’s history back to the 1920s), but it tended to cater more for the keen, competitive cyclist. This new outfit was suited to a more leisurely pace, with a greater emphasis on the social side. Another appealing aspect of the new club was free membership - you just had to show up to be included. All very low key, but it worked really well (and is still running as far as I know, on the same basis, more than forty years on).

Three bikes ‘n’ a bridge, somewhere deep in the Dorset countryside.

Steam powered transport has had numerous strands in my life, one of which was the occasional visit to old railways, both disused and restored, whilst away on cycle tours, often organised by one of my friends, Stuart and Andy.

Getting ready for the day’s ride outside Crane Lodge Youth Hostel, Andy checking the route.

Our jaunt to the Somerset and Dorset Line in these photos was the first of these, around 1988-89 time. It was just three of us on this, the first-off outing. One additional ingredient essential on these trips was sampling the local brews. Not, perhaps, the safest combination, but we all lived to tell the tale without any major beer-infused incidents. Sadly, most of the daily finer details are now lost in the mists (beer-fog?) of time, but these photos bring back some fond memories for me.

A visit to Swanage Railway. One of these photos wasn't taken by me (the camera's lens somehow survived this particular ordeal without cracking...)

When’s the next train due? Andy and Stuart and the end of the line as it was at Corfe back in the late 80s. It now continues on through to Wareham I believe.

Corfe Station, disused as it was back then. It’s now been fully restored.

Corfe Castle from Corfe Station,

1) Dismantled bridge over the River Stour. 2) Derelict engine shed, Abbotsbury. 3) A pretty tree and gateway that took my fancy.

One destination on the tour gave me one of my favourite images from that time. The beautiful chalk cliffs of Lulworth Cove.

Lulworth Cove and the local Youth Hostel we stayed at.

Another place on our tour map to visit was the impressive Hardy's Monument. The views out across the surrounding countryside were superb.

Hardy's Monument then Stu 'n' Andy taking a well-earned rest.. oh, and a local shed that caught my attention.

Well, the concludes our trip back in time. I hope you have enjoyed these photos as much as I have looking back at them.

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