I’ve somehow managed to get heat stroke in England. England! Land of no sun and pasty white folks. Go figure.
The last couple of days were spent in Dover, a short train ride from Canterbury. Yesterday I visited Dover Castle, which dates back to the 1180s. Even today it’s an imposing structure, with an 83 foot tall main keep and walls that are as much as 20 feet thick. I was again impressed at the ingenuity of the medieval builders, but for anyone visiting, be warned that around many corners you’ll run into re-enactors who are really into their jobs. Surprisingly the castle fortifications continued to be used during wars with the French and through WW2, so amidst ancient walls are anti-aircraft guns and tunnels where the evacuation of Dunkirk was organized.
After intermittent rain and sun at the castle I was feeling a bit odd, so I checked into my hotel for the night, laid down on the bed, and woke up 14 hours later. This amount of sleep isn’t normal, so it’s either heat stroke (my head is a nice shade of red) or a bit of the flu. I wasn’t going to let that interrupt vacation, however, so it was off to the White Cliffs first thing this morning for a lengthy hike among flowers, tons of birds, the odd rabbit, and an occasional cliff view. I suspect that the splendor of these cliffs is best viewed from sea or air, but it was still a relaxing stroll through the English countryside. Now I’m back in Canterbury, resting again, in the hopes that whatever is sapping my energy decides to go away soon.