After a blissful 13 hours sleep we decided to visit the Canterbury Roman Museum (built around the ruins of a roman home) only to learn the Olympic Torch relay was going through the town so decided to give all that fuss and all those people a miss and instead headed down to Dover through Hoath ad then back up to Sandwich before heading home. I have to say this is a much prettier ride than we found it on our way to Folkestone last year to catch the Channel Train. It was pouring with rain then and the road was incredibly wet and lots of traffic. Today the weather was balmy and traffic light and road dry. Lovely!

We had a lovely lunch at the Farthingloe Farm Barn and Farm shop complex. The tearooms did a yummy lunch and we were joined by a large assortment of other travellers who discovered the place as well.



Dover Castle firmly planted on the chalk cliffs which dominates the skyline above the township

From there we rode back into Dover and eyed off the castle windows in the cliff face we had visited on our tour last year. It must have been a chilling experience during the war for the locals in this area who could literally see German occupied territory on the other side of the channel on a clear day. Mind you going on the weather this summer (wettest in 100years and temperatures like our Australian winter) there may not have been many of those clear days. We are thankful that there is fine weather forecast for the next week at this point. The temperature has been mild to cool since our arrival so comfortable to get acclimatised to. It also hasn’t been hard to get used to the prolific growth in gardens and along the roadside with beautiful poppies and morning glory and other flowers in abundance. Reminds me of a lot of the old farm gardens I knew as a child.

We managed to stay dry on our way to Sandwich in spite of rain having fallen before we got there. Sandwich is a beautiful whimsical village which used to be a key point along the trail from London to Canterbury and has many beautiful walled gardens as well as narrow streets of what looks like ‘tumbling’ architecture with ancient houses in varying states of bowed and leaning walls giving the appearance they are likely to tumble into the streets but which are impeccably maintained and still standing after all this time. We came across the Bell Hotel again where we had a cool drink on our last visit. No need of one of those today.



A whimsical street view in Sandwich

Our flight over felt long which is reasonable I guess. The 9 hour leg to Hong Kong saw us getting 6 hours interrupted sleep but the 13hour leg only saw another couple of hours added so we were feeling very second-hand when we landed.



The welcome sight of our room at the Railway Hotel when we finally got there

Once we hit the airport it was clear the Olympics were in town with the sheer volume of people and there were 11 lines of people zigzagged back and forth in front of the Passport Control counters (40 plus and all working) so we had plenty of time for a chat there. Next onto the underground into London and while we first thought we were pretty clever getting a seat at the end of the carriage away from all the traffic (in increasing numbers getting on and off) that proved to be a challenge to getting ourselves and luggage extricated from our spot when we wanted to get off. Rather than having to resort to the Crocodile Dundee exercise of climbing over the shoulders of other commuter’s like a sheepdog we started edging our way towards the door a couple of stations prior to Kings Cross St Pancras so we could actually get out..…and it was still a challenge!

We grabbed a beautiful hot chocolate and a bite at the station then climbed on a South Eastern train to Faversham where we dragged our cases across the road to the Railway Hotel where we had a glorious 10 hours sleep and woke feeling remarkably refreshed this morning.



Faversham street view looking towards the Guild Hall (built 1574 – rebuilt 1814). The building looking to lean into the street really is doing that!

We headed off to the bike shop after breakfast and collected the bikes and headed for Marshside to repack some of our gear (and leave some behind….turns out I’d forgotten I left my more dressy clothes behind here last trip and collected them again before we left on our Amsterdam Budapest Cruise so have rationalised what I’ll take from here. Sadly my Amsterdam jacket will have to stay here, but the Bruges hat and scarf is coming with me.

Great to see the bikes looking so good so grateful thanks to Gareth and Tony and crew for making the impossible possible. Thanks also to Brenda this afternoon. Turns out the renewal notice didn’t arrive because most of the address had dropped off the record…...you get that with computer records apparently….no really! Anyway, all sorted now. Yay for the Bike Shop at Faversham. http://www.thebikeshopfaversham.co.uk



About to get on the bikes in the lane beside the bike shop – the smile says it all!

Last Nights’ Accommodation:

The Railway Hotel, Preston Street, Faversham UK.
Lovely old building, generous and comfortable room and friendly hosts. Was right on a busy road but nice and quiet through the night. Great cooked breakfast this morning in a really pretty room. Wouldn’t hesitate staying again.



The Railway Hotel, Faversham

After a great get together with all the family on Sunday afternoon we headed to the train to start the trip to Tullamarine Airport. Ian collected us from Southern Cross Station telling us he wanted to be sure we left the country. That would means he thinks we need a break ….wouldn’t it?



First night officially on leave, dinner with friends (Ian and Annie) in a little Italian Restaurant on the way to the airport

Monday 16th July 2012

Melbourne to Hong Kong


Tuesday 17th July 2012

Hong Kong to London

FAVERSHAM
IN: 17JUL12
OUT: 18JUL12


Wednesday 18th July 2012

MARSHSIDE
IN: 18JUL12
OUT: 20JUL12


Friday 20th July 2012

CHRISTCHURCH WEST
IN: 20JUL12
OUT: 21JUL12


Saturday 21st July 2012

SEATON
IN: 21JUL12
OUT: 22JUL12


Sunday 22nd July 2012

FOWEY
IN: 22JUL12
OUT: 23JUL12


Monday 23rd July 2012

PENZANCE
IN: 23JUL12
OUT: 24JUL12


Tuesday 24th July 2012

HARTLAND
IN: 24JUL12
OUT: 25JUL12


Wednesday 25th July 2012

TINTERN, CHEPSTOW
IN: 24JUL12
OUT: 25JUL12


Thursday 26th July 2012

TENBY
IN: 26JUL12
OUT: 27JUL12


Friday 27th July 2012

WEXFORD
IN: 27JUL12
OUT: 28JUL12


Saturday 28th July 2012

DUBLIN
IN: 28JUL12
OUT: 30JUL12


Monday 30th July 2012

CASHEL
IN: 30JUL12
OUT: 31JUL12


Tuesday 31st July 2012

KINSALE
IN: 31JUL12
OUT: 01AUG12


Wednesday 1st August 2012

CASTLETOWNBERE
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OUT: 02AUG12


Thursday 2nd August 2012

KILLARNEY
IN: 02AUG12
OUT: 03AUG12


Friday 3rd August 2012

DINGLE
IN: 03AUG12
OUT: 04AUG12


Saturday 4th August 2012

BUNRATTY
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OUT: 05AUG12


Sunday 5th August 2012

GALWAY
IN: 05AUG12
OUT: 06AUG12


Monday 6th August 2012

CONG
IN: 06AUG12
OUT: 07AUG12


Tuesday 7th August 2012

SLIGO
IN: 07AUG12
OUT: 08AUG12


Wednesday 8th August 2012

DUNGLOE
IN: 08AUG12
OUT: 09AUG12


Thursday 9th August 2012

LETTERKENNY
IN: 09AUG12
OUT: 10AUG12


Friday 10th August 2012

LONDONDERRY
IN: 10AUG12
OUT: 11AUG12


Saturday 11th August 2012

CUSHENDALL
IN: 11AUG12
OUT: 12AUG12


Sunday 12th August 2012

BELFAST
IN: 12AUG12
OUT: 14AUG12


Tuesday 14th August 2012

GLASGOW
IN: 14AUG12
OUT: 15AUG12


Wednesday 15th August 2012

INVERNESS
IN: 15AUG12
OUT: 17AUG12


Friday 17th August 2012

DUNDEE
IN: 17AUG12
OUT: 18AUG12


Saturday 18th August 2012

STANNINGTON
IN: 18AUG12
OUT: 20AUG12


Monday 20th August 2012

BAKEWELL
IN: 20AUG12
OUT: 21AUG12


Tuesday 21st August 2012

MARSHSIDE
IN: 21AUG12
OUT: 23AUG12


Thursday 23rd August 2012

London to Hong Kong


Friday 24th August 2012

Hong Kong to Melbourne


Saturday 25th August 2012

Home

Hi Troops, the 2012 trip exploring transport routes and infrastructure in the UK is currently being finalised so as soon as it is we will load the itinerary onto the Blog so you can check out where we are going and when we will be there so you will know what dates and places you want to check in the upcoming Blog of the trip.

We are fortunate we have so many people to take care of things both on the job scene as well as filling up our home in our absence.

The plan is to explore some of the USA and Canada the next two years (all going well) and we will see after that!!!!