Dover, United Kingdom

GPS of our campground: 51.10864N 1.22049 E
Campground name: Little Satmar Holiday Park

Yesterday we crossed the English Channel via the SeaFrance ferry. This despite the disapproval of the UK passport control officer. We were given a very harsh time as we didn't have proof of financial means, we're not employed, no UK address and we don't have onward travel tickets yet. You'd all be proud of me, I bit my tongue, used "Sir" and apologized a lot for the fact that the U.S. treats incoming visitors in much the same manner. He caused us to miss the 4:30 ferry.

Made the 6:30 sailing. Nothing out of the ordinary other than a lot of people gaping at our size. 1.5 hours later, we arrived in the UK.


Ferry dock.



Up on the ferry deck





Sailing to the UK.


We were a little stressed about the customs review - but the customs officers actually turned their backs on us! I leaned out the window and asked if they needed any documentation. Their response, "No. Not from you." With that, we followed the line of traffic, faced with driving on the left in an oversized vehicle that is intended for driving on the right! Everything feels backwards - you enter roundabouts going the other direction, pass on the right (left is the "slow" lane) and it just plain feels wrong. Fortunately, the campground is only about 7 miles from the docks and was very easy to find.




First glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover.



Today we visited Folkestone and enjoyed a nice stroll through town. It's amazing how nice it feels to be able to speak our native language again! We didn't realize how much we missed English until today. Signs, menus, bus information - everything is English and we aren't guessing anymore! The town itself is a strange mix of old being renovated and what appear to be newly established big box stores. Lots of retail space available. The "creative zone" is an interesting assortment of artists and interior furnishing stores that are being updated. Very interesting artwork to look at as we strolled along the narrow cobblestone street.


Cute shopping district in Folkestone.


We saw several of these signs - promising to fix the place up as soon as possible. Interesting approach.

We enjoyed a lovely Madras Curry at the Sunday market (4₤ each) with the kids grooving on Thai noodles and chicken (split one for 3₤). The people around us have been fantastically friendly and the weather has been nice (though rain is in the forecast for Tuesday-Friday).

Blick of the Sunday market - this was only the part by the dock - there were more vendors in the town center.


No idea what this is, really. Just loved the machine installed in the side of a building, titled "Other People's Photographs." Dan examined it - but for all he could see, it's just a bunch of pictures.

The Internet connection here at the campground is limiting - we aren't abel to access MSN email or Hotmail and half the web sites won't load. However, Google has been stable, including checking Gmail and using Blogger. We can sign in to Messenger and we can see the MSN home page, but 90% of the time, links off the pages won't work. Strange and frustrating - we paid 5₤ for 24-hours and it doesn't work properly.

On a final note, we've been forewarned that our luxurious, wandering ways have reached an end. Our current campground hosts warn us that we need our reservations and next stops planned well in advance. This is a change for us... apparently despite the popularity of American RVs in the UK, not all sites will accept them. =( Why did we ever leave Antwerp? ;-)