Friday, 6 June 2025

Wednesday 4th June 2025

So, Jools did the leg between Chez Jelltex and Langdon Hole, so today, I did the second leg from Langdon Hole into Dover.

One hundred and fifty five As the weather was to get worse, Jools dropped me off at the dogwalkers lay by on Reach Road.

I walked along the wartime track to the cliffs, then doubled back to the cinder road, the bed of a gravity railway that was built down the cliffs some 115 years ago to transport material for the harbour arm extension

Back to the end of England I chose this as its a gradual drop down under the National Trust's place before walking up the narrow track to the entrance, before the steps lead down under Jubilee Way to Athol Terrace and the town beyond.

Back to the end of England Time for a coffee before it was time to leave, as Jools was going for a class, she ended up too late for, but for me, I fell out of the car with just my mobile for company and a walking pole, and set off for the town.

Back to the end of England Back in the day I used to walk from our house along the cliffs to Dover, then up the other side over Shakespeare Cliff and along the cliffs to Capel and Folkestone.

Back to the end of England Used to take most of six or seven hours. I might not do that again, but this was a start, and mostly downhill.

Back to the end of England And a gentle slope, though would have been hard for adhesion worked steam locos, pulling wagons back up, but they would have been empty of course.

Back to the end of England Not much in flower, but an ever changing chorus of buntings and skylarks soundtracked the walk, and made it most pleasant.

Back to the end of England Out in the Channel, three ferries left for France or Belgium, their progress marked by a dispersing wake lit by the morning sunshine.

Back to the end of England The sound of the port floated by on the breeze: only walk on marked walkways, the next departure will be the 08:45 to Calais, and so on.

Back to the end of England There were benches to rest on, to take in the views, which I took advantage of, and not many folks around as yet, so once past the semi-permanent path to Fan Bay from the visitor centre, I met no one.

Back to the end of England Down the Cliff Road until the narrow path lead up, I took that and found four Pyramidals just beginning to open, and three Painted Ladies fed off Valerians.

Back to the end of England My phone said I was in France, and roaming charges applied, so as I had turned roaming off, it wasn't until I got to the top of the path that I got UK phone signal back, and news that Jools was too late for her class, and instead was walking to meet me.

Back to the end of England I clambered/slithered down the steep part to to path and steps leading to East Cliff, and near the bottom I met Jools.

Back to the end of England She had a hair appointment at ten, half an hour's time, so I took the car keys and she strode of, while I took my time with the final stretch back down to sea level and a walk along the Prom to the car.

Back to the end of England I drove round to Stembrook car park, then walked the 50 yards to Chaplins where Jools would meet me once she had been shorn, and we would have breakfast.

Back to the end of England A few minutes later, newly shorn Jools appeared, and we ordered our breakfasts and brews, then sat to people watch the regulars meet and chat.

Back to the end of England The breakfasts came, all the usual suspects, but no tinned tomatoes for me, thank you very much.

Back to the end of England Full to bursting, we walk back to the car, then I drove us back home, up Jubilee Way.

Back to the end of England And as is the norm now, nothing planned for the rest of the day.

I sat on the patio when the sun shone, reading an old copy of WSC, while Scully laid beside me, happy as anything and purring gently.

Back to the end of England I made chorizo hash for dinner, and cracked open a bottle of Chimay Grande Reserve to go with it, and was too nice not to sink the whole bottle, even at 9% ABV.

Chimay Grande Reserve 2022 ADS A fine end to a fine day

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