A cold, but sunny walk along the dike....

A Marrello tower

        Cracking the velvet curtains open at 6.30am,  I was delighted to note pools of dryness on the paving stones outside. After breakfasting heartily on ham and two eggs, retook the A 258 highway outside the hotel, with conditions improving rapidly, but considerable colder than yesterday. Gone was the rather desolate Romney Marsh, replaced by more pastoral agricultural landscapes. Even the sheep looked more contented than the souls I passed in the heavy rain yesterday. Soon came up to the extensive sea wall defenses project that has been built in this region to protect both the low lying residential areas and the soft chalk (white) cliffs. The walk along the top of the dike is on a path-way almost wide enough to accommodate vehicles and being free of traffic I was able to make steady progress towards Folkestone. Evident in this region that has faced many times threatened and actual invasions from Europe, are the fortifications that dot the landscape. My photograph today is is one of the series of Marrello (architect's name?) Towers built in the early 1800's to thwart the  Napoleonic threat. The plaque informed me that each tower was fitted with a cannon able to hurl a lead ball up to1 mile. Accurate??
The Channel Tunnel entrance is just north of Folkestone, although I did not detour to see it.

21.8 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 258.6
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 5.0
Type of accommodation: Chandos Guest House.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 22.50



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