Gosh, sitting here with the rain pouring outside thinking how lucky I was to have had a wonderful few days away before the weather took a turn for the regular summer weather!
In Feb 21 I booked 4 daqys in Folkestone C&CC for the end of August that year but, I had to cancel due to the family trauma detailed elswhere. I decided to rebook for this year and so glad I did. I needed some time just to be, having given energy and support to my husband and felt very depleted.
A solo camping fix was just the ticket and the lure of a pitch by the sea ridiculously enticing. I'd enjoyed my other little retreat there in 2017 and was excited to be going again. It's a fabulous spot - if you can get there (busy with channel hoppers and stoppers and a steep rough approach road).
My OH had recently changed jobs - again - so was unable to take the time off. What a shame . I was thus able to sneak out the new tent I'd bought in 2020 (Kampa Brean 3) but not used.
I grew up just outside of Dover and pretty much all of my family has either now died, or moved away (bar a nephew) which is a bit of an odd feeling as my deepest roots remain forever on a pebble beach with the castle behind. How I came to live so far inland is a mystery. That liminal space between earth and water is magical and my spiritual home. Mind you, last Wednesday's roaring waves wasn't the gentle lapping I'd anticpated lulling me to sleep. I did have a lovely sheltered pitch with a little tree for shade. I spent 3 days being a tourist, shedding tears over places that have changed and not for the best (Dover seafront), other that seem on the up (Folkestone harbour and boardwalk was a surprise) and something timeless: the magic of the narrow gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. I met up with some friends, had a mad paddle in rough sea at St Margaret's feeling about 8 year's old, not 58.
(Ratty - I will post another site review.)
So, here are my edited highlights (hopefully the pics will 'work'!).
The new tent and Helinox Sunset Chair - our silver anniversary gifts to each other last year but not used.
Anthony Gormley's statue under Folkestone pier.
Wow, this used to have trains... I still felt odd walking along the track.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
thanks - had to sign off early for a client call so posted without previweing. No idea why so W i d e. Possibly to do with the code i posted in error rather than via the photo upload icon... I can't edit now sadly so stuck with the w i d e s c r e e n.
Thanks for looking!
Anthony Gormley posted below.
Post last edited on 06/09/2022 23:02:36
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
An evening stroll directly beneath the campsite. I ran into the sea from this beach aged about 10 and sustained nasty cut from reinforced concrete metal wire poking up, all long worn away by tide and time.
Post last edited on 06/09/2022 23:07:23
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
I am from Kent too. Born in Deal as my father was a Royal Marine.
We settled in Shropshire when I was in the RAF. Its a lovely county but no coast! North Wales is not far!
We usually stay at Black Horse Farm on our way back from France and have a look around.
We did 4 days in July after 5 weeks over the Channel.
Deal is a nice town, lots of little shops and a good atmosphere.
Folkestone has definitely improved,,Dover a bit.
We have fish and chips in the chippie opposite Deal pier, its been there years.
I went to Dover Grammar School,catching the bus each day.
House prices are a bit too steep for us to relocate.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Right, here we go. Second attempt as I just deleted my whole post...
So, I'll stick to the pix. (Dave, good to hear from another Man/Maid of Kent, it is still my home in so many ways). I enjoyed The Zetland Arms at Kingsdown for its position on the pebbles and The Coastguard at St Margaret's but they've done a weird paint job on the white weatherboarding in pinky red and blue. Horrid. And renamed it 'Coastguard on the Bay'. Yes.
Anyway, the photos, if anyone's watching by now.
View from the Martello Tower looking towards the C&CC site and Dover beyond.
Anthony Gormley's statue - emerged from the tide
The little engine 'Samson' at New Romney station - he pulled The Queen in 1984 for some occasion.
My little pitch of heaven.
Over the boardwalk... Folkestone pretending to be the Caribbean!
There used to be trains! It felt very odd walking along the track.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Nice. We can't use the Folkestone C&CC site as they don't allow caravans.
Black Horse Farm site at Densole is good though.We used our bus passes for a day in Canterbury as it stops by the site.
There is a good RAF museum on the former airfield site at Hawkinge, now houses and some shops. I learned to ride a motorbike on the old perimeter track there as a mates dad was the village Bobby and had permission to use it!
The Battle of Britain memorial is good, poignant to us being an ex RAF couple.
You get Spitfires from Biggin Hill flying over the camp site.
You can book a flight if you have lots of spare cash! Lovely sound.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Great pictures. Folkestone really has changed from when I used to visit in the 90s.
We live close by now though and go to the Harbour Arm and Lees area quite a bit. Great food and plenty going on.
Argo, if it wasn't for the Leas Cliff Hall I wouldn't be here: my parents met on a coach trip there jn the late 1940s. She was invited by a friend, who was going out with a young man, who had a friend... my father. . Yes, the harbour area looked great.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Escape to the coast Part 2 - Folkestone
. I was thus able to sneak out the new tent I'd bought in 2020 (Kampa Brean 3) but not used. 
via mobile 07/9/2022 at 9:41am
. Yes, the harbour area looked great. 
