SMOOTH CROSSING
EARLY START – GET ME TO THE BOAT ON TIME!
2nd May:
We left the hotel at 9am, in order to reach the ferry port in Dover an hour before sailing. We had intended breakfasting at a remembered treasure:
Dawn’s Delight. 22 Cheriton High St, Folkestone CT19 4ET
This admirable café is an ‘institution’ in Folkestone. We had counted on a good breakfast to sail on – but could not quickly locate it. It must have been at the other end of the town, so we arrived on the boat quite hungry. The breakfasts aboard were very expensive and from past experience less than thrilling, so we made do with a Café au Lait and a Pain au Chocolat each.
A SMOOTH CROSSING:
The crossing was smooth, and Graham left me lounging in a comfortable seat with my legs up, as per doctor’s orders, while he went off to take photographs of the white cliffs.
GOODBYE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ‘AU REVOIR’
Of course, I had to go out on deck to say goodbye to England. I’m never the only one to be gazing at our guardian cliffs until they disappear from view.
THE WHITE CLIFFS – MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE
On a previous trip we spent a day touring Dover Castle. One of the best – and if we hadn’t been members of CADW (Wesh Heritage) which earned us free admittance, we might have balked at the unusually high charge – which would have been a pity. It is worth every penny.
We would have missed the ‘bonus’ of delving into the miles of tunnels within those famous white cliffs. Started in the Napoleonic wars, and the centre of operations in the Dunkirk rescue in World War 2, when the hidden windows and tunnel openings enabled strategic views of the large ships and small boats (down to a rowing boat manned by a boy scout).
WHITE CLIFFS DISAPPOINTINGLY NOT SO WHITE –
The White Cliffs of Dover needed a clean up now. These iconic guardians of the entrance to England are presently marred by tussocks of scrub and dark streaks. Any other nation would see that they were kept gleaming white…
SEAGULLS SEEM TO STRIKE A POSE
Graham also made many studies of the harbour and shipping – not forgetting the seagulls. They seem to enjoy having their photographs taken as they so often strike perfect poses, or fly slowly past at close quarters.
CROSS-CHANNEL FERRY – PLENTY TO ENJOY
As our English cliffs disappeared from view we were fascinated by all the maritime activity on this busy waterway. Pretty soon the outside decks filled up; we were all peering for our first glimpse of the French coast. The time seemed to fly, but we had enjoyed a ‘breathing space’ before embarking down the ramp and on to French concrete…
VIVA LA FRANCE!
Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)
Photographs by – Graham Usher.
