Dover Castle, Hastings and Chichester...

Wednesday, 15th, Thursday, 16th and Friday, 17th June

We had brought everything down the tiny stairs last night, so that we could pack in the morning. Not an easy task, as there is so little space to move. Used up the final bits of things we could have for breakfast, and ended up leaving a few things behind, like pepper, olive oil, teriyaki marinade, and a can of tomatoes, as this is the last self catering place we'll have.

Dover Castle is English Heritage run, and we thought we'd do it on the way out and down to Hastings. The same easy drive away from the cottage at about 9.30, and later got a message from the owner to say she was sorry she'd missed us, and thank us for leaving five pounds to pay for two broken wine glasses.

The parking for the castle was quite close, but at first we thought we'd have another trudge up a hill to do, but the road winds in and around and actually ends up very near to the entrance. Good thing we had joined English Heritage, as the entry fees would have been £28 for the two of us! I think this is quite expensive, and could well imagine some families not wanting to outlay that much.

The castle complex is quite extensive and covers a huge area, and was used during the 2nd World War as a defensive position against the "German invasion", as well as by Henry II originally. The tunnels from wartime were not open yet and so we went up to the castle itself. The tour is self-guided, and you do end up seeing quite a lot, but we (and others  later in the shop), said there weren't enough clear signs indicating which way to go. Thankfully the stairs up to the ramparts are quite wide, and you come across various rooms at different levels, and they are fitted out with replica wall hangings and furnishings from the period, and they work very well and give an excellent indication of how things were.

The dining hall was simply done with silver dishes and only knives for eating. There are passages behind the rooms and views from all parts, out over Dover and the harbour. Once at the top, and out in the open air, you can see in all directions and get a sense of what it might have been like to defend this castle. 

One family emerged at the top, and we noticed the older lady was totally blind, and was being told what everything looked like by her daughter (?), and she seemed to be very happy to have gotten that far, and was enjoying it. Lovely to see that sort of thing.

Back down in another part of the grounds is a Roman Pharos, or lighthouse, the base of which was the original Roman construction, and the top had been rebuilt in the middle ages.

 

We bought another cushion cover in the style of William Morris, which should go well with the other one, and suit our loungeroom. 

On towards Folkestone from Dover and headed for Hastings, but there didn't seem to be much there, and the Romney Marshes, and Gordon saw a sign for The Royal Oak hotel, off to the left with the prospect of a nice lunch. It ended up being a good choice as the pub had been extensively re-furbished, and was very pleasant, with bright open colours and good seating. the menu was as promised and although we both had a 'hamburger', they were not like any other, and G's was minted lamb, and Lee's beef. Very pleasant stop, only spoiled by the most obnoxious table of seemingly very wealthy men who were sat at the next table. Thankfully they were separated from us by a half wall and could not see our reactions to some of the drivel they were spouting! Also the name dropping like mentioning Cherie Blair, and a speech of hers he had attended. Another man told of giving a thousand pounds to a charity function he'd been to, and was stunned when they actually wrote to him and said they'd thought he would have given more! Obviously they all had more money than they needed, or said so. Totally obnoxious people!

We turned off too early on the way to Hastings and got lost and phoned the hotel, and were given directions, but drove up and around and back and down and missed it a couple of times. By the time we got there, the events of the day and frustrations with traffic etc., were too much and we were tired. Had dinner in their restaurant. only to be told halfway through that someone had said our car window was open and it was raining!! Obviously not on our game this night!

On a map book everything looks fairly straight forward, but when you have to go off motorways, it can be a problem judging how long it may take on other types of roads, and from Folkestone onwards there are seaside towns and traffic lights, roundabouts, etc.

Thursday - 
We had originally planned to visit Battle, and the English heritage site relating to 1066, but as yesterday had been such a big day, and rain was threatening, we decided to go into Hastings town centre. Found a multistory car park, and walked out into the main part of the town, and were both pleasantly surprised by Hastings. It seems quite spacious with some very attractive rows of 4-storey apartments and a good mixture of new and old architecture.
Fairly easy to walk down to the seaside and you can use a tunnel under the road, and come out on a promenade, looking out into the Channel. You can actually see France from here on a clear day, as you can from Deal, and Dover and I suppose most places along this part of the coastline.

There was a very nice pier jutting out into the water, but it had recently had a massive fire and looked decidedly bleak. We haven't heard if it is to be re-built.


We quite like piers, and they have been made good use of by the brits for many years, so it was sad to see one in this state. Like a lot of these seaside towns, all the buildings along the beachfront face the water, and the place must have fairly bustled, (and perhaps still does), during the summer months. It is a pebble beach, and would be very hard to walk on. Found some more pyjamas in M & S, and had the requisite coffee, and then headed back and on to Chichester.


We had a map and an idea where we should find the next hotel, and after one glitch, discovered it was a fairly new one, set in behind and area of restaurants, movie theatres, bowling alley, etc. Being early, we parked the car and went for lunch in a place called Frankie and Benny's, which trades on the 60's rock and roll era, with photos of all the stars and pop stars, but at least it was quiet. Finding we haven't coped too well with lots of noisy people, and always look for somewhere a little more peaceful.


This Premier Inn was on a flat site and so it was easy to take everything in and do some preliminary sorting for our cruise on Saturday.
We identified another bundle of things to send home, to lighten our load, like more pamphlets and guide books.
Still, we had 5 bags of various kinds and two are carry-on bags for the plane home, but we are still not sure how much washing we will be able to do on board the ship.  
(This doesn't matter when you are travelling really, because if you are moving around from place to place, the next people don't know you've got on the same shirt as yesterday!!!)

Dinner was at the local chinese restaurant. They don't have too many proper chinese ones in the UK, mostly takeaways, but this was a buffet, and the selection of food was good, but the temperature of it, wasn't, which was a bit iffy. Lovely flavours, but no temperature. Still, it made a change from what we've been having.


Friday -

Chichester Market Square

Before leaving today, we walked down into Chichester town to post the parcel back home. (We ended up sending quite a few things in an assortment of envelopes and tubes since we've been here, and they all went Surface Mail, which is cheaper, and they are things we won't need before we get back)

A little puppet show, with the fiddler playing lovely music

Chichester town is very nice, and was only ten minutes walk from the hotel. Like many towns, they have gone to a pedestrian bit in the centre, and it has a lovely Market Cross, (where the trading and markets were held in earlier times), and today was a market day with stalls everywhere. Shame we couldn't buy much, and many things would have been those we couldn't take home or would go off without a fridge. Lots of local produce, including plants, cheeses, small goods, meat, chicken, pastries, seafood, vegies, etc., etc. I know if we lived here, these would be
the places to go and get supplies!!


Back to check-out at the hotel and move on, and this trip would be quick as the road to Southampton is divided most of the way. Again, we were too early, but were able to park the car, and walk into town for lunch. Nice meal at a noisy place, and Lee's was a wrap (of sorts) with mediterranean vegetables and goats cheese, which she said was delicious. Mine disappointed, as although I like BLT's, this one wasn't toasted, and the bun it was on wasn't that special.


Once we had checked in, I decided to take the car back to Hertz, and get the bad news about the wrong fuel, etc. I knew where I should go, but Hertz are not allowed to have a sign of any kind out on the road, so I missed the turn-in, and finally got some help from  local man, and found the yard. 

Long story short, they charged us £500 for the mistake, and there's nothing I could do at this point. Plus a charge for a scratch on the front guard, and we'd forgotten to fill the car up, so there was a charge for that as well, and by this time I was totally glad to be rid of it. Eleven weeks of very comfortable driving, and wonderful things to see, but I'd had enough of the car and wanted a rest.
Still, I'd effectively "ruined" a brand new car, and it was my fault, so I can't worry about it now after the event. 
To have done what we've done in the past eleven weeks, and been able to go to the places we did, it was all worth it. Doing it by train and bus and other transport just wouldn't have worked for us, and we'd have been even more tired.

Tomorrow - the cruise to Norway