Dunkerque to Canterbury

Sunday October 21, 2018, 36 miles (58 km) - Total so far: 7,142 miles

(11,493 km)

Top tip: check where the ferry port is relative to your campsite before booking :). It's 20km from Camping de la Unicorn, so the 10am crossing requires an early start!! It is, however, cheaper if you do book the ferry. Something like £25 instead of £46. But if it's low season, you can probably book the day before.

All went smoothly, however. There are cycle paths nearly the whole way to the port, and then they are very used to cyclists. We got on first, and were tipped off about how to get off first. No hanging around for us!! The crossing was uneventful too, and we treated ourselves to a veggie English breakfast. Welcome home!

I'm afraid Dover wasn't a very inspiring re-introduction to our home country. We managed to buy an M&S; lunch (treating ourselves), and then faffed around trying to find the bike route to Canterbury (tip, it's national cycle route 16). When Ed pulled into traffic to turn right, the female driver of an SUV gesticulated and waved her hands in anger at him. Welcome home again ;). How dare you cyclists turn right when I need to drive my unnecessarily large car quickly in the same direction!!

Everything was far friendlier after that, aside from te relentlessly rolling terrain, Drivers waited, waved and gave the thumbs up. Cyclists smiled and said hello. And we smiled at the quintessentially English views. In the uncharacteristic October sunshine! NCN 16 to Canterbury does, in theory, form the first or last part of Eurovelo 5. We did actually see two EV signs, but other than that you need to be in the know. It is, however, well signposted and a very lovely route. WEll done Sustrans, I wish you had more money!! And I wish to Eurovelo website / app were better and actually imparted this useful information. I guess they need more money too.....

So we are in Canterbury!! I have put my foot down and said no more camping, so we're at the YHA. It's great. Lovely facilities and great value. Who'd have thought British YHAs would be cheaper than European hostels?? But they are, by far. It's around £15 for a dorm bed here, not counting the £3 members' discount. Compared to more like 27 euros across the channel.....and they don't even provide kitchens......counting ourselves lucky!!

Canterbury itself is nice but quite touristy, and you can't get near the cathedral without paying over 10 quid. However, it's nice to reacquaint oneself with the home comforts of Waitrose etc ;)

We'll now cycle back to Devon via south London and the South coast. Strange times to be near the end!