Paralympics and more fireworks

Paralympic sailors practise in Portland Harbour on 31st August.

September – and the last few days have had a distinct chill in the air, particularly at night.
Mind you, as I write the forecast is for the low 20s again this afternoon.

It's been a week since my last post and I've been frantically busy in the meantime; though not much worth posting about. We did manage, however, to get down to the harbour to watch the Paralympic flame arrive last week on August bank holiday Monday.

I was expecting a torch like those carried for the Olympic torch relay so I was rather surprised to see the Paralympic flame being held in what looked like a storm lantern. Why it's not a torch I don't know. [If anyone does know, feel free to post a comment below.] Anyway, despite the terrible weather (though not quite as bad as when the Olympic torch arrived and which had eased up by the time the torch arrived from Portland) lots of people turned out to watch the flame and its entourage arrive on the boat 'MV Freedom' – a boat specially adapted for disabled sailors – at the harbour. Many more lined the seafront as the flame continued its celebratory route on the Sea Life land train up and down the Esplanade.

In the evening there was an 'international fireworks display' – the third fireworks display we'd seen in a month! I'm not sure whether the 'international' part of the display was because it was for the Paralympics or if this is an annual event.

This time, rather than watching from Bincleaves Green above our house we walked to the steps leading from the west side of the harbour up to the Nothe Gardens from where we'd watched the flame arrived. A much better view from here, but I suspect the best view is actually from the main beach but, as it was pouring with rain and we were already pretty wet (despite coats and umbrellas) we really didn't fancy walking that far.

Five days later – September 1st – and the Paralympic sailors had started their races. There seem to be only three classes (mixed) but each has a race every day until the last on medals day, Thursday (6th). Ian and I went for a walk down to Sandsfoot Castle (the ruins of a castle built by Henry VIII; more of which in a future post) where on a mound in the gardens next to the castle was a crowd of people watching the sailing. The weather was good, though overcast, and many of the spectators were making a real day of it with picnics and blankets all around.

Fixed to a fence at the garden's edge was a flotilla of 'boats' all brightly decorated with an Olympic theme created by students at Budmouth College and 10 Weymouth primary schools.

From here we joined the Rodwell Trail, a former railway track from Weymouth town to Portland, now tarmaced and an easy stroll to Ferrybridge where the track abruptly ends as the bridge no longer exists. Along the way you can see the remains of the platforms with signs such as 'Wyke Regis Halt' still in place, though half hidden under sweet peas, honeysuckle and brambles laden with unripe and rather small blackberries.