Dover and Deal

Monday 3rd October 2011

We had a bit of trouble hitching up in the mud but, aside from that, it was a smooth getaway and we managed to get on an earlier train. As we left the site, Monsieur le Patron waved to us from his tractor. I wonder if some other poor bugger was stuck in the mud? Au revoir, French person, au revoir for now, la belle France.

Found a super little site in Deal. It’s just a big field (a bit windy) with water and chemical disposal. Mr Solley can be found in the office of the little ice cream factory to which the field belongs.

Mr Solley
The Dairy
Ripple
Deal T14 8JL
Tel: 07836 653257
Email: sc.solley@solleysicecream.co.uk
£8 per night.

Tuesday 4th October 2011



Spent most of the day at Dover Castle. I didn’t realise it was so huge. There are tours of the secret wartime tunnels (with air raid sound effects – makes you glad we’re not at war), you can look at the gun batteries, the anti-aircraft operations room, the Admiralty lookout and, best of all, the Great Tower, which has been furnished in medieval style as it was during the reign of Henry 2nd. That was the best bit in my opinion. There’s a restaurant serving wartime food and sub-standard sandwiches. It’s not cheap to go in @ £16 per adult. Fortunately we’re members of English Heritage so it didn’t cost a bean. We’ve had our money’s worth for sure out of that.

Views of the harbour from the castle.

Wednesday 5th October 2011

We went to have a look at Deal Castle but it was shut so we had fish and chips instead.











Walmar Castle was open and we enjoyed that. It was built during the reign of Henry 8th and is the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Duke of Wellington held this post for 23 years and there’s a lot of D of W memorabilia, including his death mask. I heard one chap remark that it would have been better if they’d put his teeth in first. True. I must remember to add to my will:no embalming and definitely no death mask, with or without teeth, thank you very much! Anyway, as well as the magnificent building, there are fabulous gardens to explore. Highly recommended.

Views from the

battlements.

The Queen

Mother's

Garden.

Thursday 6th October 2011

Packed up and set off towards home.

Stayed the night at Cannock Chase and it’s freezing! The site’s good, in the middle of Cannock Chase Forest. Toilets etc are clean and modern. We might come back some time and explore the area, which looks really interesting.

Cannock Chase Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Old Youth Hostel
Wandon
Rugeley WS15 1QW
01889 582166

So that’s all for this year. It’ll be strange to live in a house again. We’d be quite happy to mooch about for months on end but obligations and duty call. Oh well…