My friend T tends not to go for walks unless she is with someone, so I said I would go for a walk with her one Monday and where would she like to go? She later asked if we could we go to Bournemouth for the day instead. Well a day in Bournemouth is a bit longer than a walk but I gave in, especially after another friend had pleaded for her – and at that stage the weather forecast was quite good. As the day got closer the forecast deteriorated so I wasn’t happy, considering the weather last time I went. In the end we had a bargain that if it rained she would buy my lunch and if it was nice she would come for a paddle.
The day came – cloudy and drizzly and it even rained while we were on the bus. It had stopped by the time we arrived, so we could have a coffee/tea in the Lower Gardens. Then we headed for the front.
As a walk had been the original purpose of the day I made T walk with me to Alum Chime as it is somewhere I remember my grandparents liked. Having got there I didn’t dare tell T that I wanted to walk up and explore it!
This time there were quite a few beach huts open (there is one in the picture above) and more people on the beach.
Also more people in the sea.
However, having reached Alum Chime it was time to head back to town for lunch at a cafe T had in mind – if she could find it! This was successfully accomplished – a place called “Flirt” which she told me was an LGBT cafe. I probably wouldn’t have realised if she hadn’t told me, but there were features which did indicate it! As it was not raining we paid for our own lunches.
Then we headed back to the beach. On the way we passed a “Build a Bear” shop, which I had heard of but never seen so I insisted that we go in and have a look. We got the general idea – choose bear (or dog or …..) get it stuffed to ones required hardness, get it sewn up, choose extras. The clothes for bears seemed quite expensive and I don’t think I need another bear – Arthur might get jealous.
We then made it to the beach for our paddle, but couldn’t go in deep as T’s jeans wouldn’t roll up very far. Guess what? It was cold!
Even though she had been reluctant, T decided that she had actually quite enjoyed the paddle. The sand now seems to be at the same level as the promenade so there was nowhere to sit to dry our feet and put our shoes and socks on. We had to lean against a lamppost instead.
It was then time for our ice-cream, but on the way we encountered a group of drummers and stilt dancers.
As there were people talking to some of the audience I think they were trying to convert us – but I am not sure what to! They didn’t approach us so we went and got our ice-creams – not the nicest we have had, but a necessary part of the experience of being at the sea-side. We sat on a wall to eat them, but T’s legs were too short so she was swinging them backwards and forwards like a small child! (I have seen her do the same in church sometimes.) However, it was me who spilt ice-cream down myself.
It was then time to get the bus home.
Was it a good day? Well T said she enjoyed it! It was MUCH better than last time because although it wasn’t sunny it was dry, much less windy, mostly quite bright and warm. It was good to paddle and have ice-cream and walk and have a good lunch – so yes, a good day.