After our less than satisfactory encounters with the local bus service over the last couple of days, we are taking it easy today and staying in town. According to the weather forecast, it will be another day of heatwave with a high of 24°C this afternoon.

Sunrise
Photo by Tigger

Once again, Tigger was awake before me and took some pictures of the sunrise.

A juvenile gull visits our balcony
Photo by Tigger

Later, a juvenile gull appeared on our balcony, perhaps hoping to find food scraps.

Another sunny day in Folkestone

We at last set out into the sunshine. We went first to the Harbour Arm, once Folkestone’s gateway to Europe and today a place of entertainment and pleasure (allegedly).

The Harbour Railway Station

We crossed over what were once railway lines and passed the old Harbour Railway Station.

Holiday Home
Richard Wiods

We stopped to look at this object, called Holiday Home, a companion to the one floating in the harbour. Like all public art in this town, it is claimed to be part of Creative Folkestone Artworks. The artist is Richard Woods.

Cormorants

We spotted these cormorants hanging out together as is their wont. They have not been fishing recently: if they had been, they would be spreading their wings to dry them. Later they were joined by a black-backed gull.

Looking along the Harbour Arm

This photo shows the Harbour Arm with its lighthouse at the end.

The lighthouse

Here is a closer view of the lighthouse.

Looking along the Arm to Folkestone

We walked along the upper level of the Arm. On the left, in the picture, is the open sea. Straight ahead is a view of the town.

The old Harbour Station

Via a downward slope, our path led into the old Harbour Railway Station. All doorways are boarded up but the station signs, in both English and French, are still in place and as fresh and clean as new.

Rug People
Paloma Varga Weisz

This sculpture stands between the two railway tracks. The track bed, once filled between the rails with dirty pebbles, has been covered in with tarmac and the central area turned into a garden.

Bold gull

We reached a flight of steps leading down to the street and on the railings sat a young gull, calm and seemingly unconcerned by people passing by quite close. Perhaps he was hoping for a handout.

The Old High Street

We climbed (slowly!) up the Old High Street, stopping first at Folklore for coffee.

Stairway to… somewhere

Partway up the Old High Street, we came to this staircase. Were we tempted to climb it and see where it leads? In a word, no. Climbing the street was exercise enough.

Sandgate Road

At the top, we reached Sandgate Road, glad to be on the flat at last.

Old Burtons’ Store

We spotted this old Burtons’ store, which, unlike many, still has the trademark Burton name still in place. We looked for any foundation stones but could find none, unsurprising because the ground floor has been altered, no doubt removing them.

Sandgate Road

We walked along Sandgate Road which is pedestrian-only and has taken over the role of the town’s high street.

The Step Short Commemorative Arch

This brought us to a hilly road that was renamed Road of Remembrance in honour of the fallen of World War One. At the top is this arch by Philip Gearing. (“Step short” is the command given to marching soldiers to shorten their step when marching up a hill.)

Looking back up the Road of Remembrance

We walked down the Road of Remembrance, which is fairly steep, though, of course, it is easier going down than up!

Crocheted poppies

Down the righthand side of the road is a metal fence. (Beyond it the ground slopes steeply downwards.) Thousands of poppies have been made by individuals with crochet and affixed to the fence.

At the bottom of the hill, we were fairly near our hotel to which we now returned for rest and recuperation. The next item on the agenda will be lunch but I will post this now.