Calais and Gravelines

The first part of our Cornwall odyssey took us across Belgium to Calais. In the picturesque main square of Ypres we lunched on the national dish, frites. We then visited Dad’s Uncle Tom’s grave at the Brandhoek New Military Cemetery. As ever, it was quite emotive.

 

We continued cross-country via Cassel and the V2 rocket bunkers at La Coupole d’Helfaut-Wizernes and the Eperleques forest. Ingrid and I then explored the extensive Vauban fortifications and port and beach at Gravelines. We stayed the night in a cheap and cheerful hotel on the beach in Calais with a view over the Channel to the classic white cliffs of Dover. A pleasant dinner was accompanied by a panoramic view of the North Sea and its passing shipping.

Next morning we were greeted with an all-enveloping sea fog. Not only could we not see England, we could hardly see any of France. Fortunately, unlike the ferries, the Channel Tunnel is unaffected by such conditions. The tunnel infrastructure was impressively efficient, so we were quickly loaded on to the train which promptly disappeared into the earth. Thoughts of the millions of tons of seawater above us exacerbated the already gnawing feeling of claustrophobia – I prefer the ferry. 30 minutes later we emerged safely in England.

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