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Day 01: What day is it...??
Day 01: What day is it...??
Sunday June 14, 2009, 49 km (30 miles) - Total so far: 49 km (30 miles)
Sunday June 14, 2009, 49 km (30 miles) - Total so far: 49 km (30 miles)
World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Kent > Kingswood - map
World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Kent > Ashford - map
World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Kent > Dover - map
World > Europe > France > Nord-Pas-de-Calais > Dunkerque - map
TGP: we're here, waiting at the ferry terminal... we left an hour earlier than planned because we both woke up early.... the cycling to ashford was fairly easy going... drew found it a lot easier than he thought it would be, so that's good news, and apart from a bit of rain & drizzle, it was perfect.
Drew made a video of us leaving the house.... it was 6am, and I'm not sure he's got over his jet lag either, but he seems to think it's still the 12th June...!!!! (watch the video and you'll see why....)
We had a bit of a stopover for a photo opportunity... the weather still looks a little overcast, but there was definitely blue skies showing through between...
It just started to drizzle a bit later on, so we took shelter under a few trees and next to a stream... it was actually a really nice place to stay for a few minutes... very pretty and it felt like a very pleasant start to the holiday...
... and this was Drew just after we set off again...
... Once in Dover we stopped off at a cafe for a breakfast roll... bacon, sausage and fried eggs in a soft roll... truly a kings breakfast... and there was even a delightful VPL thrown in for free...!... the view was great...!
... the ferry terminal was an interesting experience... cyclists have to follow the freight signs... luckily there weren't many lorries around, and so we checked in, got the tickets and went and sat down in the shade coz by this time it was sooooo hot in the sun I actually felt sorry for all the people queuing in their cars waiting for the ferry. This was the view from the bench we were on...
Then I got a bit arty suddenly... and took this one, that I quite like....
The ferry trip was fairly uneventful, we were allowed first on and first off as well... everyone should cycle for the trip, just to get that opportunity...!... we both caught up on sleep and felt better for it...
Drew came up with an alternative route for the trip between dunkirk ferry pier and the hotel, following a berm along the seafront... this worked out fantastically, though Drew was flagging a little because it was time to sleep according to his jet-lagged body-clock, but he pushed on brilliantly, aiming for a bridge that we could see in the distance, with the promise of a photo opportunity when we got there... we finally arrived (it was a long way!), and pulled up our bikes on the bridge... suddenly a hugely loud siren went off and it became clear that the bridge was going to raise...!.. we removed ourselves from the bridge and waited for the thing to raise... and after another three siren calls (why?), it went up...
Drew's got a video of the thing lifting that is slightly more exciting than watching paint dry, but not by much...!!!!
Overall, I'm feeling very happy that we actually got here... that my planning works... and I really can't wait for the rest of the holiday... what a difference from last week when all I could do is worry....!!!
I think I made comments before about Drew's Brooks honey coloured saddle.... in the flesh it's really rather nice... now all I need is a bike to put it on...!!! In fact, I'm thinking of stealing the saddle, but I think he'd notice that it was missing, and I haven't exactly got a lot of options for places to store it without him seeing it... I'll keep thinking about it..
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