They spell it Brugge here - more about that later.
A long day today in spite of it being only 84 km. the reasons include:
-2-1/2 hours on the ferry and getting going
-a side trip to Dunkirk beach
-a time zone change
So, instead of getting in about 1 pm. I got in at 4 pm which left little time for chores (shower, laundry, etc,) and exploring before the riders Meeting and dinner.
Off we go. I said I'd try for better pictures of the White Cliffs and the castle. Here's what the ferry staff see when 29 people on cycles show up at the turnstiles. BTW, there are actually 33 of us including staff, but there are different regulations for groups bigger than 30, so we get 2 cyclists to ride in the trucks and the trucks go separately. Go figure. It works.
Here's a sort of better shot of the castle behind a better shot of the castle.
A much nicer shot of the cliffs as we leave. Note the classy touch of getting a sailboat in the photo.
The crossing was nice and calm, but you can tell that the ferry has had some rough trips from the amount of salt spray on the windows 6 decks up, so no photos. Besides, it's cloudy and threatening rain.
We're in France now. Unfortunately, our track takes inland behind a very industrial part of Dunkirk - nothing nice to look at. I saw power stations, an oil refinery and other industry.
About 10 km into our ride and 5 km north of the town centre, I detoured from the track and went to the beach. It's a large & beautiful sandy beach. I found a memorial to a paddle wheeler called the Crested Eagle. It was attacked by dive bombers during the evacuation and caught fire. The captain ran it aground in an attempt to save lives, but over 300 soldiers and crew perished.
The beach looking east.
That's it for France. 34 km into our ride we cross into Belgium with only a sign to indicate a change of country. First impressions: very flat, generally more modern looking homes than England with lots of farming and canals.
They have drawbridges over the canals with interesting looking davit style cranes to lift the roadway.
The country is much more bicycle friendly. Lots of wider roadways with space for cycle lanes both sides.
A group of local cyclists. Note the basket decorations. It was Sunday and the streets were relatively quiet. A lot of the cyclists I saw were riding at a relaxing pace. We'll see what that's like tomorrow as they head to work.
Near the end of the day I passed under this arch at the entrance to Bruges.
Bruges is a World Heritage Site which has been occupied since the Middle Ages. As I mentioned I had little time to look around, so here's a few shots.
St. James Church (or De Sint-Jakobskerk) is one of two that dominate the skyline. It is from the 1100's and has that Medieval look. I couldn't fit it into a single shot. Here's the tower from down the street.
And, from a bit closer.
An interesting building
This is one side of the main square. The square is quite large, fully paved with stone; the size gives it an open feeling.
Another church in the distance. I don't know the name of it.
Depending on the schedule tomorrow I may take a bit more of a look around.
Tomorrow's ride is to Brussels, where we have a day off.
June 18 now - I was able to get a look around Bruges. This tower is referred to at "Belfort" or belfry. Started in 1240, it served a number of purposes including a treasury, archives storage, bell tower and lookout for fires & other dangers. It was damaged / destroyed 3 times in its history. You can pay for the privilege of climbing the 366 steps.
The inner courtyard and lower part of the tower.
View from in front. Note the gloomy and foreboding skies. Drizzle & showers on and off during the day.
As I went to Befort I found the original main square of the town. Totally awesome architecture.
Still in the square.
Last view and a shot of one of the canals as I leave town
Evidence of the Belgian cycling culture. There were at least 50 cyclists stacked up at the light. I only managed to get my camera out for the last half. Belgian drivers have to be very aware of cyclists and must have a lot of patience. It would take many, many years for this culture to be accepted in North America.
So, that's what I saw as I left Bruges.
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.
Getting out of London was easier than coming in. We had a short convoy and then were on our own. Most of the route was near the Thames.
We crossed London bridge, which gave me the opportunity to go off the track and get a nice shot of Tower Bridge in the sun.
Just a bit further along, in Greenwich is the replica of the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper originally built in 1869. Rather beautiful and appears to have most of the original rigging configuration.
At the same location is this entrance to a Greenwich Foot Tunnel under the Thames.
Built at the turn of the 20th Century, its been in service since. It is 1200 feet long about 9 feet in diameter and lined with 200,000 white tiles.
It's hard to tell, but off to the left side of the tunnel entrance on the far side of the Thames is Canary Wharf.
The Greenwich area is also home to a number of museums, including the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House art gallery. A photo of the Maritime Museum. No time to visit.
In the street is this small shop with all the interesting statues. The old British Bulldog got my attention when I pedaled by.
Off course again to have a look at the Thames Barrier. The tidal range in the Thames is over 20 feet, so a high tide with climate change and a storm could wreak havoc. So, between the structures are barriers that are raised hydraulically when necessary. I was fascinated by all the info. but I won't bore you with it.
At a square a bit further is this display of cannons, I assume installed in earlier times to protect London. The big gun is 38 feet long.
Between the guns and the river is this interesting set of statues. They are apparently metal and hollow with 1/4 of the body cut out. I didn't see any information about them.
A reminder that the Thames is a working river with boats ranging in size from a few tens of feet to ocean going freighters. This guy caught my eye because of how low in the water he was.
We rode a cycle trail more or less along the river for about 15 km. I noticed this sign while I was with one of the guest riders. He pointed out that this was a bicycle trail marker, with trail distances from this point to Inverness (1191 miles) and to Dover (106 miles).
I forgot to mention - every now and then a TDA Cycling alumni will join us for day or so, to renew friendships with TDA cyclists and staff and, in this case, help guide us down the Thames.
We left the Thames and headed more south. About 40 km onward, near our destination we passed "Historic Rochester." It did turn out to be rather interesting. Here are 3 ridges over the River Medway. I took this photo from the grounds of the Rochester Castle.
This stone castle dates from the time of the Norman conquest.
To me, being in a less than pristine state seems to give a castle more "romance" (for want of a better word.
And just up the street is today's 'feature pub, the Cooper's Arms. We stopped for a libation. You may ask why I can stop for a beer but not stop at a museum? Well, it's hot out, we only have 5 km to go and I didn't have a beer, I had a Tonic Water. So there.
Last photo of the day is of one of the main streets of Rochester, gussied up for summer festivities.
We are just a few km away on the outskirts of Gillingham. It seems like another typical town, although not as hilly as Rochester was. Perhaps a photo or two as we go through it on our way to Dover tomorrow.
June 18 now - I was able to get a look around Bruges. This tower is referred to at "Belfort" or belfry. Started in 1240, it served a number of purposes including a treasury, archives storage, bell tower and lookout for fires & other dangers. It was damaged / destroyed 3 times in its history. You can pay for the privilege of climbing the 366 steps.
