To the Garden of England..and Beyond.
We are headed to the southeast this year and a hop across the channel to explore the delights of Calais and Bolougne on foot as well as look round Dover castle.
Fact Panel
Details
Trip Date:
June 2002
Transport:
Ford Transit Minibus
Accommodation:
Chalet
Duration:
Three Days
Cost of Trip Per Person:
£180
Video:
Sony Mini DV Video Camera
Rating:
Excellent
Members Attending
Deal Trivia
County
Kent
Population:
33000
Known For:
Pier, Castle, Old Town.
Where is Deal?
Day One: Saturday
It was the usual early start for us to drive the 3.5 hours down to Dover. We stopped off at Thurrock Services for a bite to eat before contining across the Cartford Bridge and so to our chalet at the Kingsdown Country Resort near Deal. The next day dawned pleasant and so we repaired to Dover Castle for an expore round and to visit the wartime tunnels and casemates. Lots of milling about of course ensued and much confusion. Later in the aftenoon eateries in Dover was sought. needless to say a trip to the pub happened soon after.
The A framed chalet was very nice, John seemed interested in the electric meter for some reason but he's a bit strange like that. In th eafternoon we had a loo round Deal and the pier and seafront, before getting something to eat and settling in at the pub for the evening.
Day Two: Sunday
Day Three: Monday
Up early we were as Calais beckoned. We drove to Dover docks, eventually found somewhere to park the oversized van, lost Nic, found him and lost Mic. But all was good as they were all found for the ferry trip across the channel
We disembarked and made our way to a cafe where DSA was the order of the day. A visit to the tourist centre enabled us to purchase train tickets to Bolougne, and we made our way to the station. A short train trip later and we were walking along the Bolougne town walls, using the exercise machines placed there as well as taking video and photos etc. While walking along the streets, a strange thing happened; someone from the high rise apartments we were passing had thrown a model plane out of the window and it landed next to us. So we picked it up and kept it. Or rather Mic did.
We had somethign to eat then made our way back to Calais and back on the ferry. Laterwe had ameal and drink at the Hogshead pub, where we noted the barstaff dressed as french maids chasing each other. It appeared to be a gay pub :)
Day Four: Tuesday
It was decided today to go explore some more of Kent so with that in mind we headed somewhat north to Broadstairs and Margate.
In Margate we had something to eat and walked to the old Cliftonville lido and climbed the steep slope of what remained of the Cliftonville funicular lift.
Day Five: Wednesday
Soon enough it was the final day and the trip home. We left the chalet and motored back up the M2 and called in on Canturbury to visit the cathedral. All quite intersting especially seeing the place where Thomas a Beckett got murdered.
Of course no trip would be complete without a visit to a Little Chef and this was duly completed. Another trip over for another year, next year would see us expand on the accommodation with a luxury rental in the Lake District.
