The tide’s in

It was already past 2 pm by the time we bestirred ourselves to go out and prospect for lunch. The temperature, bearable this morning, had risen. The Met Office revised its mid-afternoon figure to 25°C but I think the local value was higher than that.

Balconies on our floor

Before leaving, I stepped onto our balcony to photograph the inner basin with the high tide (above). At the same time I photographed the balconies of this row of hotel rooms, including ours. As you can see, it would be easy for someone to step over the dividers and go to any room in the row. The sliding balcony window has a bolt but it is not very substantial. I think a determined person could break through it. Unlike some hotels, this one doesn’t provide a safe in the room. We take our few valuables with us when we go out.

The stairwell
Photo by Tigger

Only one lift serves our floor so there is a certain amount of congestion, especially during the day when the lift is used by housekeeping staff with big trolleys. There are two other lifts which serve floors up to 7. So one way to beat the congestion in our single lift is to walk down a floor and take one of the lifts from floor 7. We tried this (which was when Tigger photographed the hypnotic stair well), and it worked perfectly. A trick to remember when our lift is busy.

The Captain’s Table

We didn’t want to go too far to find lunch so when we came upon the Captain’s Table, we went in and asked for a table.

Inside the Captain’s Table
Photo by Tigger

The only criticism I would advance is that payment is by cash only. In my view, that’s unforgivable in this day and age. What stops them moving to contactless? I have my suspicions but had better not express them.

Sunny Sands

After lunch, we walked along the seafront, beyond the Harbour Arm where there is a beach rejoicing in the name of Sunny Sands. It probably isn’t always sunny (this is the UK, after all) but it’s certainly sandy. There were a lot of people doing what people do on beaches.

Stairs

The promenade ends here where there is a staircase that presumably leads to the street. I say “presumably” because we did not go up it and so I don’t know where it leads.

Beyond are rocks

Beyond this point the coast is covered with rocks and is unsuitable for beach activities.

Rocks on the beach

In fact, the rocks start on the sandy beach before this point, providing, as it were, an indication of what is to come.

Returning the way we had come

Ignoring the steps, we turned and went back by the way we had come. As you can see in this contre-jour photo, it’s no small distance.

Arcade

At one point, we walked along this arcade as it provided shelter from the sun.

Sea lapping rocks

I photographed the sea lapping the rocks. It looks so gentle – almost benign – here, but I know it can also be violent and destructive.

The Folkestone Mermaid
Cornelia Parker

This is not Den Lille Havfrue but is perhaps inspired by her. There’s more about this sculpture here.

In view of the heat and the good walk we had had, we returned to our hotel room to make tea and rest. We opened the balcony window and…

A gull appears

…a visitor appeared, strolling along the balcony rail. I just managed to snatch this photo before it disappeared from our view.