Today was an early start on the beach with a thorough clean up of the beach shelters and removing the sand from all the access points. It was a shaky start to the day with a few sharp showers, managing to catch me out in the open each time. Eventually it settled down to to a pleasant sunny day and the visitors soon started to flock in, bringing an unbelievable amount of kit with them.  some families set up virtual fortresses with tents, windbreaks and even dug huge ramparts in the sand in an attempt to mark out their territory.
The latest craze seems to be digging unfeasibly deep pits near to the steps and slopes onto the beach, I can see someone falling into one of them and breaking an ankle any time soon. Obviously the Health and Safety at work Act hasn't reached the world of sand play yet. I have filled in several of these in an attempt to prevent too many ambulance trips to the beach.

Today being a split shift I was able to go for a session with the rowing club. It is certainly more peaceful out on the water. In this shot, taken when I was relaxing in the bow, clearly show the thole pins that take the place of rowlocks in a Cornish Pilot Gig. The leading pin, the one that takes the strain, is turned from hardwood for strength, the trailing one is softwood and is designed to break more easily if a rower catches a crab, a term describing the action of the blade entering the water at the wrong angle and being pulled down violently. Curiously, the Cox is the only person in the boat who is required to wear a lifejacket, despite being the most experienced seaman in the boat (in theory)  I suppose the rest of us have a 12 foot wooden oar to cling to. To learn more about Gig Rowing in Swanage take a look at : ssrc.org.uk

The last day of the carnival observed from a safe and quieter distance.
The last two hours on the beach were a matter of clearing litter and dispensing information to tourists. There is a sign on the Tourist information centre advising people to bring lost children there. One witty old gent asked what we do with them and I felt an overwhelming urge to tell him that we have a deal with the local Kebab shop.
Today's stats: 20708 steps 8.82 miles.

If you have enjoyed reading this blog why not take a look at some of my other work, My book "The Art of Coarse Boating" is available at: Buy The-art-of-coarse-boating
 Also see my own website: jeffdray.co.uk