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Post by spindrift on Oct 22, 2009 9:56:58 GMT
Recently I visited Sandbanks, Dorset which has some of the most expensive properties and real estate in England. Sandbanks is on a headland of Poole Harbour (one of the largest in the world) and Studland is opposite. There is a vehicular chain ferry across the harbour entrance. Brittany Ferries provide a service from Poole to France. It is a busy harbour and , for the observer, provides constant entertainment. Views from Sandbanks to Studland and Brownsea Island.   There are many kite-surfers, even on a chilly day.   The vehicular chain ferry. Like all English seaside towns Sandbanks attracts the old and infirm who steadfastly gaze out to sea. Most of them are sitting in their cars with the doors firmly shut. A portrayal of the delights of the Jurassic coast. The smaller ferry that chugs over to Brownsea Island. Brownsea Island and castle - owned by the John Lewis partnership but open to the public for day trips.   |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2009 10:43:48 GMT
Wonderful pictures SD. It appears windy and cold out there on the water. I adore ferries and watching the people as you have noted.I'm always amazed at how the seemingly smallest of them can handle so much cargo. I want to say, no,no,that's too many as they squeeze on one last vehicle. Having grown up all around water these photos make me very nostalgic. Thank you for the glimpse.
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Post by spindrift on Oct 22, 2009 11:08:36 GMT
Thanks Casimira. I can never understand how the weight of coaches and buses don't sink the ferry! Yes it was a cold grey day. The seaside can be quite unpleasant during the winter due to bitter winds.
* I don't understand why the page is 'stretched' as I re-sized the pics to 550*.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2009 11:21:51 GMT
I am not at all nostalgic for the cold.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 22, 2009 14:31:46 GMT
Oh ~~ this is fascinating, Spindrift!
I love that shot of the pristine hill behind the very modern ferry Dolphin. What is a chain ferry, please? Also, why "Jurassic"? And what is the large brick building? This is so interesting. I hope you don't mind answering all these questions!
About the stretching -- I don't know why the forum started doing this recently. I think if you put a space between the side-by-side photos of the Dolphin and the red bus being offloaded, it should unstretch the page.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2009 16:35:58 GMT
Excellent pictures as usual, but I am surprised that none of the ladies here are asking for details about Studland.  |
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Post by spindrift on Oct 22, 2009 16:41:14 GMT
Bixa - of course I don't mind you asking questions! I have copied the following extract about Chain Ferries out of Wikipedia ~ "A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts. Early cable ferries often used either rope or steel chains, with the latter resulting in the alternate name of chain ferry. Both of these were largely replaced by stronger and more durable wire cable by the late 19th century." Actually you can clearly see the two huge chains that pull the ferry across emerging from the water.... it's astonishing that the Sandbanks chain ferry is continously moving to and fro across the harbour mouth when there is so much traffic on the water including the large ferries going to France. There is always a long queue of cars and other vehicles waiting to embark since the ferry crossing only takes 7 minutes and saves taking a congested 25 mile road route. Here's a link about the Jurassic coast, Dorset as it's rather long to copy and paste. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_CoastThe red brick building is Brownsea Island castle.... I had no idea that the so-called Jurassic coast is a World Heritage site or a Wonder of England....I know there are lots of fossils waiting to be found on the beaches or stuck in the cliffs. |
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Post by spindrift on Oct 22, 2009 16:43:07 GMT
Kerouac - very funny ;)d.....
* It occurs to me that I'm fed up with boring and chilly days out on the English south coast. I've done Brighton, Bognor, Chichester, Southampton, Bournemouth and now Sandbanks this summer..... I'm looking forward to days out on Phuket. Has to be an improvement.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2009 17:00:53 GMT
I'm asking, K.  Great pictures, Spindrift, I can imagine it looks somewhat different on a hot sunny day. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 22, 2009 21:10:23 GMT
Excellent pictures as usual, but I am surprised that none of the ladies here are asking for details about Studland. We girls think of AnyPort as studland!  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2009 21:32:27 GMT
We sure do. And I'll have one order of this please. Tank U.  (sorry spinny, end of thread jack, but I knew you'd appreciate the pic) |
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Post by cristina on Oct 22, 2009 22:37:11 GMT
Beautiful photos, Spindrift! I was especially intrigued by the description of the chain ferries, which was new to me. And since I live no where near any sort of seaside, I really appreciate the very different ambiance from my desert environment.
And I was equally intrigued by Deyana's threadjack. May I have 2 of those, please? ;D
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2009 0:03:31 GMT
Who was that guy on early ttr who kept posting the pictures of girls in underpants? I objected to those, too.
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Post by imec on Oct 23, 2009 0:05:52 GMT
Nice spindrift! And thanks for putting in a plug for my home town ;D
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2009 0:41:53 GMT
Thank you, Spindrift. I am still having trouble envisioning it. Are the cables on the bottom of the water, or up high where other craft can run into them? Surely not!
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Post by hwinpp on Oct 23, 2009 3:48:26 GMT
Girls in underpants? I prefer them in knickers Are the places you mentioned all seaside 'destinations', SD? I mean would those be places that attract more visitors than others or would every sea side town on the coast be more or less equally busy? |
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Post by spindrift on Oct 23, 2009 20:02:19 GMT
Bixa - I had a good look at the cables where they emerged from the water onto the landing quay. The boat trundles its way across the harbour mouth whilst fixed to the cables. I have no idea how this is done. If I'm there again I'll take pics of them for you (at the water's edge). Actually I was surprised to see them. I have only been there once before and never noticed them as I was in a car on the ferry itself. Perhaps Kerouac might know? Kerouac?
Hwnpp: Brighton definitely attracts a lot of people even, I think, during the winter months. The other places I mentioned are just towns by the sea within fairly easy reach. I'd never think of visiting these beaches unless someone else is going and invites me. I find the English Solent coastline quite depressing; inevitably there's a sharp wind blowing and the beaches are composed of pebbles not sand.
I think that Kerouac knows everything
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2009 20:32:04 GMT
Well, I'm glad you're enduring these beach visits! As has been pointed out more than once on this forum, our great value to each other is the ability to show countries as they really are -- not just the travel-poster versions. As an Anglophile and a fan of Paul Theroux, I've read The Kingdom by the Sea more than once. Since the book was written over 25 years ago, it is fascinating to look at your presentations of the English coastline to see what remained as he depicted it, and what has changed. |
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Post by lola on Oct 24, 2009 1:34:22 GMT
Nice, Spindrift. I wouldn't mind staring steadfastly out to sea for awhile; we're so landlocked here.
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Post by imec on Oct 24, 2009 3:14:18 GMT
Out to sea what lola?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2009 4:34:20 GMT
I'm taking some time off in December and I hope to go to one of the deserted coast towns for a least a day.
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Post by patricklondon on Oct 24, 2009 11:55:33 GMT
Brownsea Island, by the way, was where Baden Powell held his first Boy Scout camps.
With absolutely no connection:
How can I put this delicately? Once across the ferry, there's a long, long beach backing on to open land maintained by the National Trust, some of which was (still is?) a nudist beach, and part of it once had a reputation for a certain sort of gentleman.
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Post by spindrift on Oct 24, 2009 15:40:20 GMT
Kerouac ~ Do you mean you will be coming to England in December? would you like me to drive you to a 'deserted coastal town'? Bixa - I have read Paul Theroux's 'Kingdom by the Sea'...and I recall that he mentioned the old-age pensioners sitting in their parked cars and silently looking out to sea. Nothing has changed in that respect. I'm so happy that folk find my seaside visits entertaining and in that case I might take a trip to Hayling Island, Hampshire soon. |
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Post by spindrift on Oct 24, 2009 16:23:43 GMT
I neglected to post a picture of a typical Sandbanks hotel. It is situated near to the landing quay. There's nothing modern or high-rise in the vicinity which is good. |
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Post by imec on Oct 24, 2009 16:35:24 GMT
Oooh, I can picture myself on one of those balconies with a glass of port, enjoying the smell of the sea breeze!
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Post by spindrift on Oct 24, 2009 16:40:54 GMT
Yes, it does look quite welcoming. Possibly they even have real log fires in there!
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There are many kite-surfers, even on a chilly day.
Like all English seaside towns Sandbanks attracts the old and infirm who steadfastly gaze out to sea. Most of them are sitting in their cars with the doors firmly shut.
