Portland Bill like the rest of the country had a bit of a battering weather wise this weekend.

Portland and the south coast in general had some flood warnings issued over the weekend and with the wind helping the sea along it was a wise move.

The main causeway connecting Portland to the mainland known as "beach road" is pretty vulnerable to flooding in high winds.

Annoyingly my own rechargeable batteries for my camera ran out so a old friend who took these great pictures has allowed me to share them with you all.

Thank you to the lovely Serena for allowing me to share...

As you can see from the first picture the waves were very long and crashing in hard on the pebbles, this beach being made wholly of pebbles itself is part of the reason we get flooding as the beach tends to move in and upwards.

On any other day you will notice the beach steps up as the beach gets higher, the tiers are non existent in this kind of weather, as you see below taken slightly further back from the first one.



This untamed wind topped 80 mph at least, I'd say it got to 90mph at times out there, indeed my son had trouble staying on his feet.

Although he had never seen this so rough, the last time I remember it getting this bad was 1989, or thereabouts.

The boats had been moved off the beach and placed on the wall itself or behind the wall for better shelter.

With this second picture you an clearly just how far up the beach the waves are going, and with only the beach stopping it going over onto the street where I live and the beach road itself it's no surprise the place was reinforced 20 years ago near the Cove inn and behind my own home.



Facing the waves from the vantage point where Serena took the pictures you are looking at this coming towards you, crashing against the sea wall itself, where people usually walk, (it was closed by the coastguard) and you will get WET here!

Serena also went out to Portland Bill no doubt to show her kids the things we grew up seeing, what makes Portland so great in stormy weather.

It's the Portland we get to respect when she shows her true power.

As you an see below the crane itself is dwarfed by the crashing waves.

 I found this older picture of the old naval flats.... before the revamp into luxury apartments for private sale, and boy do they look drab and ugly?

Most of us locals felt they should have been pulled down as was the original plan, the navy only intended them to be up for ten years, then replaced with something much more fitting to the area that benefits the locals.

Thankfully the new look after the revamp is a huge improvement and looks much better being white, although they are more likely to be sold to non locals as a holiday home which is a shame.

I felt personally they should have made it into a 4 or 5 star hotel, overlooking the marina it could have been a good addition to the island and boost the little tourism we do get here, at least add to those coming for the sailing and windsurfing.

There's going to be some great views from this building in the 2012 Olympics.

At least the buildings are better...
Nevertheless, looking at this drab picture anything was an improvement.

Portland Bill...not to be confused with the children's cartoon program of the same name is the southern most point of Portland and County of Dorset.

With this impressive 35m lighthouse sitting at the tip since it was built in 1906.
With modern GPS the lighthouse as I have mentioned before on this site is rarely used, although it does if needed as the fog here can be pretty bad at times.

With the history of shipwrecks off Portland we have, you can't take chances.
this is not the only lighthouse at Portland bill either, behind the point I am stood to take this picture sits the white lighthouse which is now a bird observatory, as shown below...



Portland bill here is known for the main red and white lighthouse you see here although there really is much more to Portland bill than two lighthouses. Portland bill itself is quite isolated from the main housing areas, which is great in some sense and in the summer it really does feel like a day out, away from the beaten track.

Portland Bill, always worth going to see, whatever time of the year.

Portland looking serene in still waters under a grey sky, taken from the very far end of "hamm beach" that runs alongside the beach road causeway.

It is on these waters you find the windsurfing championships, any weekend or indeed some weekdays you will see windsurfers and kite-surfers out there, also soon to be the waters for sailing in the 2012 Olympics.

This was such a quiet beach when we were young, mum often took me and my two brothers down there in the summer and we often had the whole beach to ourselves, all day, not so now with the windsurfers and such.

The water here is shallow for quite a way out making it a very safe place for the kids to play, or it did, but the windsurfers add a new danger to consider, although most are considerate enough to not be so close to the shore so it is still safe as long as everyone is aware of those around them.

Portland looks great from this beach with nothing in front of it to interrupt the view.

Portland as seen from Foords corner in Wyke on a lovely clear day can often stop you in your tracks, if only to take a picture. ;o)

If you go to Portland you will pass this point and being one road on and off the Island you can see why work traffic can be a hassle, if there is a hold up for example, or worse an accident, oil spill etc, as has happened this year several times.

The gradual slope of portland is pretty evident here, the highest point on the left being the long plateau known as  "newground" from where you get thse other amazing views looking towards Wyke and Weymouth, towards the point I took this from in fact.

The lowest point on the right being Portland Bill where the lighthouse is situated. The island does have a slight angle towards North West from the bill along the centre line of the Island.

I like the look of Portland itself as well as the amazing views you get from Portland, it's a lovely lump of rock!

Don't you agree?

 Portland's plants and trees had a good day today with the downpour that ensued about ..."oh" 20 seconds after I got back from the shop. Lucky me, missed it thankfully as it really came down  for a while.

The clouds came over pretty quickly, darkened the sky and didn't hang about letting go with the rain.

Not too sure if there was any thunder as I didn't hear any but you can't rely on my hearing. :o)
Certainly didn't see any lightening.

With recent drop in temperature we can probably say farewell to the good weather, mind you it is November. and we have had some long warm spells this year.

Don't the clouds look great and moody?

Portland fair is here for the weekend, open for three days this year and in the half term holidays too.

The bonus being the weather has been good so it's dry too which also makes it safer for obvious reasons.

I do think personally the atmosphere has been a little lost from the change of site, admittedly when the fair was in chiswell it caused traffic issues, which on the whole the island accepted and dealt with it but back then it was a proper street fair.

Since the move that's a little magic that's been lost.

There are benefits for the move yet I think it's a huge change and an important one, atmosphere is a big reason for going. One big reason the islanders enjoyed it was because it was an opportunity to see everyone, I mean everyone knows everyone here, or they did much more a few years ago, nevertheless it was part of the charm.

A chance to natter with people we don't get to see in our busy or hectic lives, depending how you view it. :o)

The street was alive and lit up with the sounds of the fair while steam floated over the hot food stands, people with candyfloss and balloons, prizes in hands, smiles and red cheeks all round.

That to me was the fairground attraction.

Now a memory, nostalgia.