L2L Day 2 Dover to Folkestone - 11 miles


The weather forecast for the day was promising full sunshine all day but a low temperature combined with a keen wind from the North resulting in a 'feels like' temperature of 2 degrees. It was going to be a cold walk.

Despite the forecast, the bright sunshine gave us a welcoming start to the day.



Before heading out of town, our eyes were caught by a shop selling an alternative form of transport which might well become more attractive as the days go on. The 'Savvy Defender' had an air of indestructability and at a mere 6 and a half grand seemed to be a mere snip.


We soon realised that the route was not going to be flat.


The King Charles III coastal path as it heads West rises steeply out of Dover with open views back towards Dover Castle, the White cliffs and the harbour.


The route westward passes the Drop Redoubt, built in 1804 to fend off any French invasion.

The walk along the clifftops was a delight
 

with hearing our first skylark of the year, gorse coming in to flower


and Blackthorn in blossom.


Another plant that seemed to be  flourishing everywhere along the route was Horse parsley or 'Alexander'.


It was only appropriate that along the way we should meet our very own 'Alexander' Beetle.


While walking along the cliff edge, we met Jill, a local Conservation volunteer with a keen interest in the numerous WW2 pill boxes and gun emplacements dotted along the cliffs. She took us to see one of last remaining WW2 "Sound mirrors" which were used to identify the sound of incoming German bombers and fighter planes during the Battle of Britain.


Further along the path, we visited a Memorial with its wall of names of all those who flew during the three months of the Battle of Britain.


As we dropped down from the cliffs we could see a Martello tower. Another defence against French invasion built in 1805.



Folkestone was bathed in sunshine as we
walked towards the harbour. Floating in the centre was a model house which we later heard is a symbol of a local protest at the proliferation of second homes and the difficulty that locals have in starting on the housing ladder.
 

The appropriately named Steep St. has all sorts of interesting independent shops.


Friends, Barrie and Sheila had driven over from Whitstable to join us for a pint and a d supper at a local Gurkha restaurant. Folkestone is the home of the Gurkha regiment and the supper was delicious.
Barrie had prepared for me a Pilgrims badge - a Whitstable Oyster shell and good luck talisman to carry on my walk.


Our hotel for the night at Sandgate


faced onto the beach with a beautiful view of the sunset.









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