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First trip to the Jurassic Coast


RTC

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Hello all!

 

My name is Rafa and this is the first time writing in the forum.

 

Instead of posting in the introduction section, I figure it was more entertaining to do it by my first field trip report and finds, in this case to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. I am sure nothing new to the members of the group as it is a mega famous place, but I had the most amazing weekend taking my first steps into this amazing world and would like to share!

 

About me, I am a Uruguayan living in Munich, Germany since 6-7 years, and with some family in the UK. I am a total beginner in this from both the paleontology and fossil collecting sides. I have always been interested in Paleontology but what really pushed me out there was a wonderful video of the NZ guy "Malambo Fossils" in which he shows his adventures collecting and preparing (mostly) crabs. That intensified my desire to get deeper into this fascinating world and start to collect and learn.

 

So, during a visit to my family in London last week I decided to take a weekend trip to Lyme Regis. There are plenty of reports and information on this area but here are my thoughts:

 

  • Lyme Regis and Charmouth are very nice towns, even for non-fossil people but quite expensive! a single bed room was 80 Euros/night even in these months. It was totally worth it though. Staying in the nearby towns inland is cheaper, many well connected with buses (including the "Jurassic Coaster"). Careful with logistics on Sunday as surprisingly the buses run very few routes, and getting a taxi to the nearest train station was even a challenge. Having a car makes everything easier. The closest hostel I could find is in the town of Beer (awesome name) but it was unavailable and the prices I could check are also quite expensive.
  • It is possible to do it from London by train, and the best route I found was a direct train to Axminster and then a bus to Lyme Regis. The direct trains are not very common though. Google maps is very accurate and perfect for planning. 
  • Being a total beginner and ignorant in these topics, it was amazing to be able to find lots of fossils to get even more motivated about this activity. 
  • The Lyme Regis museum (house of Mary Anning) is perfect, the right size and with so much interesting stuff to experience. 
  • The guided tours I would say are also a must, but since I failed to book in advance I could not take one.
  • Many of the fossil shops, which are also amazing, are owned by old time fossil collectors from the town/region, and the once I met are amazing to talk to, have million stories and are very generous to share the knowledge and passion. They also do guided tours.
  • All fossils can be collected as long as you don't abuse, so chiseling the walls or big blocks is not allowed and I heard that also one cannot use trollies or wheelbarrows to take stuff home, so basically you can take whatever you can carry.
  • even in the short length of coast from Pinhay Bay to Charmouth, the layers that are exposed changes therefor "producing" different type of fossils, and knowing this in advance can target you in the desired direction, something I was (and still are) totally ignorant about.
  • the beach right out of Lyme Regis to the east is packed with small "fools gold" amonites that are very easy to find, and a great thing for kids or people that just want to find fossils without chopping rock etc
  • Pinhay Bay, which I loved, was completely deserted even in the weekend. In my case it produced less "free" fossils than Lyme Regis beach towards Charmouth, but exiting ones inside nodules or rocks which meant less fossils in my case (since I have zero experience) but also more rewarding when one starts to learn to read the marks and shapes that reveal that a fossil is inside, or the type of rock etc. 
  • I had no luck with Ichthyosaurus vertebrae, but apparently they are quire common finds. I was unlucky or most likely not eye-trained enough.

 

Some pics of Lyme Regis

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Now on to the finds. I spent two half days, and one full day over a weekend and with excellent weather. Upon arrival at Lyme Regis I went straight to Lyme Regis Beach in direction to Charmouth which I did in roughly 5-6 hours, then took the last bus to Lyme Regis. Did not find much at the beginning of the walk as the tide was already out for a couple of hours when I got there, and the first part of the beach gets "combed" by lots of people, or maybe I am too much of a beginner who knows...One thing that I also find interesting is the Victorian times artifacts that you can find such as coins, silverware and parts of ceramics and glass. As I got closer to the "Black Ven" I either started to get luckier or better trained and found several amonites and belemnites, in some cases cracking a rock open here and there. I also collected some rocks, and what I think might be a coprolite? I also got a bunch of amonites from a fellow hunter. The good thing about being a beginner, even the smallest trace of fossil is a worthy keep! Now the next steps is to continue learning, identify my finds and eventually start testing some prep work on some.

 

Any tips or questions welcomed!

 

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(was actually on day 2)

 

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Surfing seagulls

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Edited by RTC
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Welcome to the Forum. Your first post is outstanding and very informative, also love the pictures and your finds, keep it up.

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Welcome to the forum , your report reminds me of my first trip to Lyme though I did find my best ichthyosaur vert on Monmouth beach on that trip.

 

John

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Be happy while you're living for you're a long time dead.

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Very nice report and finds! :)

Thanks for posting this.

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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Welcome from Illinois.

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Mark.

 

Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them!

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1 hour ago, t-tree said:

Welcome to the forum , your report reminds me of my first trip to Lyme though I did find my best ichthyosaur vert on Monmouth beach on that trip.

 

John

Thanks! I was really hoping for some vertebra finds but now being back at home and knowing that I will be back in the UK in a couple of months, I kind of like that I have that to look forward to.

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I really want to get to the Jurassic Coast and the Isle of Wight. Your finds are really awesome! :envy:

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It's a wonderful place to be, let alone collect.  My Chicago group will get back to the UK hopefully 2023!  Great finds, by the way!

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Welcome to TFF, from Indiana! :) Those are some amazing finds! I found the post very inormative. :thumbsu:

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Thanks for sharing your trip. I remember getting started in looking for fossils with ammonites being my main goal. Like you I have much to learn and have found the journey to be fascinating.  

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