June 16 - Gillingham to Dover

87 km of cycling today.  I got into Dover fairly early, so I climbed the hill to Dover Castle just for fun (?)

 Field of poppies on the way.














Today we saw this style of chimney for the first time.  It is called a "Kentish" chimney and is used for drying hops.








Lots of 'tunnel traveling' today.  The bush grows so near the single lane road that there isn't enough room for two vehicles to pass.  Somebody backs up to the last "Passing Place (often with a sign marking it).



We were stopped at this level crossing.  The local train unloads, loads up and takes its time leaving.  The gates stay down.

Nothing is happening.  Why?

Then WHOOSH!  The Eurostar flies by in a huge hurry.






Still no action on the gates.  In a few seconds a gentleman in bright orange coveralls comes out, pulls on a big lever (I assume to unlock the gates) and then proceeds to swing them open one at a time.  We are finally on our way.  What a combination - 21st century high speed train with a nineteenth century crossing.








One of the nicest countryside photos yet.  I'm finally high enough on a hill overlooking the farmlands.











For total contrast, here's the view from where we had lunch.  That massive railyard is the assembly point for the Chunnel trains.

It would take  3 shots to give a complete panorama of it.









Nearby is the Battle of Britain Memorial.  Replicas of two of the British fighters (Spitfire shown here) with numerous storyboards.  Also a log low wall with Winston Churchill's famous quote ("Never in the field of human conflict ...") carved into it.








I couldn't resist added this, "The Squadron Dog."  Way too cute.












After that, a very nice 10 km downhill shot into Dover.  Into my room, shower and off up the hill to Dover Castle.  

What's this tree, Laura?  It was on the path up to the castle.

Dover Castle was built by King Henry II in the 1180's.  It commanded the routes into England which consolidated Hank's power.






These first two photos are looking either way from the portico.

















 This is Henry II's Great tower.















A view towards France from the roof of the tower.  Some of the buildings were added as late as the 1800's.  One is still used as a regimental barracks.

A recreation of one of the great rooms in the tower.  There were also recreations of the Throne Room, the main Bed Chamber and the Kitchen.


During WWII Dover Castle was the headquarters for Operation Dynamo, the Rescue From Dunkirk.  All this was housed in secret tunnels (some from the 1700's) dug into the chalk cliffs.  I had an interesting tour of this (but photos not allowed).



We're staying in a pretty waterfront hotel (my room looks back).  A nice combination of old styling upgraded with modern fixtures.













Unfortunately, this is my only photo of the 
White Cliffs.  Sorry about the flag poles.

Tomorrow is a 5 ayem get up, no breakfast and onto the ferry to Dunkirk.    We pedal through France to Bruges in Belgium.

As we leave I'll try for better  photos of the cliff and one of the entire castle.

Right now it's hit the hay time.  Dinner was late & slow and 0500 comes awfully early.