Waking Up To Ocean, 22 Jun 2014

 We spent last night in the Grand Burstin Hotel at £35 per room, which included Internet and a buffet breakfast.  Dad and I were on the first floor above the pub and were lulled to sleep with the rhythms of,  "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucile," and "Running Bear loved little White Dove. . . . ."  There were others but I guess I fell asleep and cannot recall them.  Dennis was on the 3rd floor and his room was stuffy.   He opened the window in an effort to cool down but was met with the cigarette smoke from the room below.  

 With all things considered, we did sleep okay and our shower worked great.  Dennis had trouble figuring his out.  The Wade's had asked us on Friday if we had had a traditional English breakfast yet.  We have not, but today is that day.  There were scrambled eggs, steamed eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, beans, toast, yogurt, canned peaches and steamed prunes, blood pudding, and if you wanted, cold cereal.   

The milk was in little metal pitchers on the tables and at room temperature.  There was cold water and  diluted orange juice.  We all found plenty to fill our tummies.  The dining room had a fantastic view of the harbour and out into the ocean.  The sun was bright, and the birds were singing making it a beautiful Sunday.

We loaded into the car and took a moment to decide where we would attend church.  There was a ward in Deal and a ward in Canterbury, both not too far from Dover.  We tossed the names around and Dad  said we should go to Canterbury.  We typed that destination in to the sat nav and were off.

Buildings on the hill on our way out of Folkstone.

The drive was easy and we enjoyed seeing the wide open spaces, not like the country around the temple that is all thick with growth and foliage.  There were pastures of sheep here and there.  We were to Canterbury within a half hour and finding our way to the ward building.

Upon driving into the city we came to this structure.  We didn't know what it was but I was impressed to take a picture.  Glad I did as it is the Westgate of the city wall and is the largest surviving city gate in England.  It is a medieval gatehouse and stands 60 foot tall.  It was built of Kentish ragstone around 1379, and is well preserved making it one of the city's most distinctive landmarks.  We drove right through its drum towers!

We found the church house, missed the turn in and went on to drive around the block.  You really don't drive around the block here.  From past experience we have learned that going around the block can take you to another town if you are sure where the block ends!  Dennis turned around at the next street and went back the way we came, parking, and going in.

Upon entering the foyer, we were warmly greeted by missionaries, support missionaries, the bishop, and other ward members.  They were so very friendly and happy to have us join them.  Sunday School was just beginning and we went in the chapel to join the class.  Dennis offered the opening prayer and the bishop brought his lesson guide to us so we could follow along.  The members seemed well acquainted with each other as their conversation and discussion went freely among them.

During the break before Sacrament Meeting, more members came to greet us.  Sister Wheeler found out we were from America and asked if I would send her a post card when I got home because she collects them from other places.  I told her I would be happy to but would not be going home for a couple of years, but that if she gave me her address I would see if some of my grandchildren would send her post cards.  She was so excited and went off to write down her address which she gave me.

Sister Margaret Bush visited with us and when she learned we were missionaries at the London temple, she said we must know her sister-in-law, Arlene Davis.  Yes!  We do, she and her husband are on our shift and we see them every day.  We were both excited to have someone in common.  I told her we wern't  sure we were going to be in this ward as Deal was an option.  She replied:  "Oh, then you would have met my son!"

There was a young couple that is engaged and will be sealed in the London temple.  We visited with them and found out they will be there July 26.  Another brother told us he is organizing a temple trip on the 11th of July.  We are looking forward to seeing all of them.

Sacrament meeting was like at home, lots of family noises, youth speakers, and rest hymn.  We even saw Brynlyn's double busy as can be playing on her mum's cell phone!  The speakers were Elder & Sister Sill from Layton, UT.  They are support missionaries for the young adults and are finishing up their mission, heading back home on Saturday.  They have developed a deep love for the saints here in this ward and have loved their service in teaching institute and working with the young single adults.  They will be sorely missed, I am afraid.

After the meeting was over, we changed clothes and continued our trip to Dover Castle.  It was a short distance and before we knew it, there it stood, tall upon the hill, strong, magnificent, and grand.

Above ground Dover Castle is essentially the greatest medieval fortress in England, created by King Henry II and his Pantagenet successors.  Built between 1180 and 1185, this symbol of kingly power was also a palace designed for royal ceremony.

Colton's Gate, Early 13th Century.  The upper part was altered in the late 15th century.  Dennis & Barbara.

The  inside of Colton's Gate.

Dover Castle commands the shortest sea crossing between England and the continent.  It sits atop the famous 'White Cliffs.'

The mighty Great Tower is the grandest and among the last of the keeps raised by the kings of England during the 11th and 12th centuries.

The Great Hall was magnificently set out ready for a feast. 

 We joined with other tourists as the king ruled on various complaints brought to him by the citizenry.  Unfortunately, Dennis was accused of poaching the king's deer!  He stood before the king and listened to the accusation.  When all of was said, the king asked if he had anything to say.  He started out:  "Your Honor, I mean, King. . . "

He didn't say much more and before you knew it, he was condemned for poaching!  He was sentenced to loose his eyes so he could not "see" the deer, and would loose those body parts that causes him to be "manly and want to hunt."

The knight escorted him out of the hall and we soon heard a blood curdling scream.  The deed had been done and the knight led Dennis back into the hall with him holding one hand over his eyes and the one hand over his crotch!

A woman was convicted of brewing bad ale!  That is a crime because the water is not always safe to drink, thus, what would she give to her children?  Good ale is a must for every home.  Her sentence was to be placed in the garderobe (toilet) where crap would fall on her!  Disgusting!  We saw the garderobe and it would not be pleasant to stand there for someone to do their business on your head.

It was a fun time and the actors were great!  We had a good laugh with Dennis and he was such a good sport.  We were surprised though, that he didn't break out in his lawyer mode and plead his case a little more convincing.  He even came up with arguments after the fact.

It could have gone something like this:
Dennis:  "Your Majesty, I am but a poor farmer and need food for my many children." Or
Dennis:  "Those weren't deer, they were big rabbits!"  Or
Dennis:  "Do I look like I need to poach?  I am big enough to provide for my family."

This is the guest's bed chamber.  These beds look just right for the grandchildren.

The king and his knight demonstrated sword fighting using their "wasters," swords constructed exactly like their fighting ones to use for practicing so as to not ruin the real ones.

You can tell the king by the red robes.  Royalty were only allowed to wear that color.  His sable  cloak lies on the bench.

We are looking through the Palace Gate, late 12th century.  Refortified in 1853.

Stone construction that has lasted for centuries!  Dennis says this gives a whole new meaning to the word "old."

We walked to the top of the tower!  We didn't count the steps, but by the time we got there we were huffing and puffing!  My legs felt like jelly.   On the way down, we took side detours to explore other rooms in the tower.  We toured the kitchen, viewed the Royal Chamber, and walked through a passage way that seemed mysterious.  It could have been a great place for secret meetings.

Looking out from inside the tower at other structures.

Around his impressive keep Henry built a powerful inner curtain wall, . . . .

and beyond that an outer curtain wall.  These three (keep, inner curtain, and outer curtain) mutually-supporting lines of defense make Dover the very first 'concentric' fortress in western Europe.  

From the tower roof, looking at Dover.

Watching the ferry from France coming into the harbour.  If you look closely you can see the France coastline in the distance.  Dennis says our next outing will be going to France!  The abby and lighthouse are to the right.

This was Henry III's Great Hall in 1240 and was remodeled as a barracks in 1745-56.  These incorporate surviving medieval buildings.

It was exciting to be on top of a castle tower.  Imagine:  "The enemy is coming!  Get your spear and find an opening!

From the roof out into the harbour.  See the cruise liner?  We watched it go to sea later in the day.

From 1740 its defenses were updated in response to every European war involving Britain.

Dover Castle was garrisoned uninterruptedly until 1958, a record equalled only by the Tower of London and Windsor Castle.

The Roman lighthouse is one of the best preserved Roman lighthouses in  Europe.  It was probably built in the  second century AD.  Dennis.

Beside the lighthouse stands the church of St. Mary in Castro, the finest Saxon building in Kent.  It has been dated to 1000 AD.

At the beginning of the Second World War the network of chalk-cut tunnels deep beneath the castle - begun in 1797 to counter the threat of invasion from Napoleonic France - was recommissioned and further enlarged.    They housed a hospital and became  Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay's bomb-proof naval headquarters.  Bob coming out of the tunnel.

We exited through a gift shop that had all kinds of war souvenirs.  They had a sampling table of some spreads we tasted on crackers.  The All Butter Raspberry Curd was delicious and we bought a bottle.

We made the adventurous journey into the tunnels up to 26 metros beneath the castle.  We heard the actual radio broadcast announcing the outbreak of war.  We saw the communications room filled with huge closet-sized equipment that now fit into a cell phone!  We watched war footage from a European view and felt the drama of the rescue of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. We were in the tunnels for about an hour.

Exit tunnel back to the car park.

Note the window located in about the middle of the cliff above the tree line.

Here you can see tunnel windows to the left in the cliff and in the center.  Notice the white cliffs.

For the Mamas!

 Dennis shared with us his thought on how bathrooms and restrooms are called "toilet." in England.  When something is for rent, they use the phrase, "To Let."  He said when he sees such a sign he is tempted to write the letter "I" in between the o and the L.

What do you think?