zippee.info

Wow. I am learning so much. What an experience this is, and I'm only one week in. It feels like it's been months. I have been going through all these high points and low points and it's all rather exhausted, but hopefully... worth it. The biggest thing I think I've learned so far.... next time I travel...it will be with somebody. (Hopefully Annie) I just, find myself constantly, day in, day out, minute by minute thinking, if only they were here (particularly her or my family). I mean, I think it's great that I am getting to experience this one my own, and I know I'll look back and be glad I did it by myself. Still it kinda sucks at times. When I'm super stoked on something I just am thinking "WOW! I'd love to share this with someone" and when I'm super tired, or bummed, or lost I think "this would be so much easier if someone else was here". Nonetheless as I said I'm learning.

So back to what this post is supposed to be about, Dover, Canterbury and Folkestone.

Canterbury-Before leaving London I headed to The National Gallery and the British Museum. They were pretty cool to look at but I felt I needed more time in both. Then again, maybe I didn't. I mean it was great to look at super famous paintings by Monet, Rembrandt, Leonardo, Michelangelo , Picasso and more but then again, they all kinda looked the same. I decided you either needed TONS of time, so you could read each description, or breeze through it like I did. At the British Museum I got to see Egyptian Mummys, the Rosetta Stone, Old money, pots, etc. etc. The whole world's history in one museum. Anyway, I then returned the bike I rented and hopped a train to Canterbury.
The train was lovely! Riding through the countryside seeing wonderful little towns with old churches, sheep, narrow roads, big grassy hills, and lots of ruins was fantastic. Sadly I couldn't really stop in any of them. Nonetheless Canterbury was pretty much just what I needed. A little bit smaller than London, ok a LOT smaller than London, but still a little touristy. The old Cathedral there was great though and the Hostel was EXCELLENT. Super nice staff, wonderful old house with a big room that I only shared with one other guy. There was also a lovely family with 2 kids that were very outgoing and talkative. At one point they asked "Are you Scottish? You sound Scottish" haha. They made me miss my family though. Oh kids with accents are great, French, British whatever. Fantastic!

So after spending the night in Canterbury and viewing the city a little more I decided to take a train to Folkestone, where I was thinking about possibly catching a ferry or caravan thingy or something across the channel. The bus ride was great (it was a double decker and I sat right up front in the top!) and seeing more countryside was nice. Then arriving in Folkestone and walking around the town was quite pleasant. It's right on the coast and seemed pretty laid back. Though the actual beach kinda sucked, apparently the rocks I took a photo of (with the water washing over them) is what was dumped from the Channel Tunnel. Anyway, the town was very hilly and as I headed back up to try and figure out where to go I passed a bike shop. So of course I had a look around. While in London I had looked at a few and folding bikes had caught my eye. Not super fast, or comfy but entirely practical, they fold in half and sometimes the handlebars fold to so you can take them on trains, planes and squeeze them in tiny places... well sadly they start new at about $200. Honestly though I couldn't even find any for that. (except one used one) Well, as I was saying I was in Folkestone and happened on the bike shop and guess what? That's right, they had a folding bike, used... for 75 pounds. I debated it for awhile but decided, hey I had spent 12 pounds on a rental in London and would probably spend more in Paris and Amsterdam at least if not other places.. so that kinda makes up for it, plus I can probably resell it or get it on the plane as checked luggage. I did talk him into throwing in a U-lock for 10 pounds and I was set. As I biked off on it I wondered if I was crazy... decided I was and continued. Now this is where it gets fantastic. Honestly what's coming has been my favorite part of the whole trip.

Having decided I am crazy, I then decided to bike from Folkestone to Dover... about 10 miles. Well, see, I had a bike map and ummm, my good sense about me so why not? It was sure an adventure. After trying to head out of town the wrong way... and then heading out the right way I found what appeared to be the bike path...but it was up a VERY VERY steep hill...and definitely heading in the wrong direction. Nonetheless I stuck it out, and was rewarded. Reaching the top I realized I could see all the way down into the town, across the town and to the sea. Along the hill I could see some old ruins, rolling hills, big cliffs and more. I continued on, and on, and on, mile after mile rolling by in utter amazement. Actually I probably stopped a million times. I literally kept telling myself "Spencer, I know it is AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL up here, but, if you don't hurry you will be biking in pitch black darkness." Still as you can see I took quite a few photos, but honestly none will do it justice. This was the bike ride from heaven, no one around, part bike trail, part paved road, part dirt road, part rock road, all sweeping fews on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Oh and the RUINS! There were ruins scattered all throughout the cliffs. Here there everywhere. I would stop, explore, go some more, stop again etc. etc. I could go on but you get the picture...or if you don't head to http://zippee.info/photos2 and start from image 60.

Alright I need to keep the rest of this short cause I'm probably boring you to death and I want to go rest.

Once arriving in Dover I headed directly to the train station, and hoped a train to Ashford, where I hoped to catch a train to Paris that night... well that didn't work out. I arrived in Ashford and the lady working the counter told me I had missed the last one by 30 minutes... but more-so it would have cost about $110 anyway.... WHAT? She continued to tell me how tomorrow would be just as much as so we began digging, for a deal. She searched from Ashford to about 5 different places at different times on different days etc. etc. no luck. Still bucks. $60 ish was the cheapest and that was only gonna get me across the channel. With time running out I said that's alright and I would just find somewhere to stay the night and then in the morning head back to Folkestone and catch a ferry. She kindly then told me about a guest house she had a number for nearby and called them for me and booked it and everything. at 35 pounds it was more than hoped for but... I was out of options. (it sure was nice to have my own room though, oh and a real tower after taking a shower!) Then after booking we tried a few more things before I gave up.... when wait? What's that? A deal? Haha. Literally as I had lost all hope she goes "oh wait, I think I found one." "what" I reply. "Well, how about 29 pounds to Lille France" "Umm... ya. How'd you do it" "You want to know how I did it?" She asks. "Yes please" "Well.... I put you under friends and family!" Haha. This lady was amazing. I pray God blesses her super kind heart, Charlie Hicks. That's her name. Pray a blessing on her for me. Haha. So I booked the ticket, spent the night at the house at 6:57am this morning was on a train to here. Lille. Oh... right... that was not so wonderful. So by the time I arrived at the Guest House that night it was about 10... so by the time I was checked in and ready for bed it was 11 or so, and I had to be at the train station (by bike) at 6:20am....No alarm on me.... no alarm around... so being the intuitive guy I am.... I looked at what I had that would work as a makeshift alarm and found something. Water. Yep. So what I did was drink about 24 liters of water before going to sleep so that literally I think I woke about 8 times during the night, every time having to pee SUPER BAD but not letting myself. Well it worked. I woke up at 5 am, relieved myself and headed out. And now... Lille!