The Seventh Continent

There's a saying, 'there are seven continents, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe Australia and Romney Marsh'. I'm not sure if this refers to the opinion of the rest of the world (of the oddness and reclusiveness of Romney Marsh people) or to the conviction of the local populace that they are a breed apart and live in a place quite separate from the rest of the world.

It was, of course, under the sea until quite recently (historically speaking). It is an unusually flat place. Very bleak, desolate and romantic, seething with history and war remnants. And sheep.
This is Camber Castle (the Marsh is littered with castles)

And this is near Rye Harbour (which according to the OS map is either in the middle of a perfectly dry and empty patch of marsh or in the middle of a small industrial estate)
Taken from the seaward side of the dunes which stand between Camber Sands and the sea. On the other side of the dunes you drive along a flat road which winds between dykes and embankments and are very aware of being well below sea level. The line of dunes and sea walls and shingle banks fill the seaward horizon and far, far away on the other side there is a wall of hills which was once the shore line. In between, the seventh continent. On a misty morning I believe you'd see the ghosts of waves and flickering reflections of wandering tides and currents in the corner of your eye. Atlantis has nothing on this place!
There are many snug little corners though; this is where the sea lock divides a meeting place of rivers from tidal waters.
Tide being out at the time.
After wandering around the creek in the late and warm sunny afternoon, we set off to our hotel in Hythe. The journey had taken four and a half hours (not the two and a half blithely estimated by Google earth), mainly because we decided not to use the motorways because of the bank holiday traffic. This was a good decision; as we travelled we listened to the radio detailing blockages, accidents and traffic jams on every major route we would have passed and the route we took went through some beautiful corners of Kent on it's way to Sussex. If you have to spend four and a half hours on the road it's hugely better to spend it meandering backwards and forwards across the garden of England than sitting in the hot sun on bits of motorway. The hotel was really quite nice and joy of joys...the view from our window :)

And suddenly

We're off to Romney Marsh tomorrow. Kindest friend is going to dog/cat sit, room booked for the night and exhaustive study of wikipedia and multimap and all sorts of useful internet stuff tells me that not only can we travel on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway but we can also see the village and harbour that feature in my most favourite childrens' books from verylongago (wish for a pony - Monica Edwards) and Derek Jarman's Garden at Dungeness.
Good heavens...spell check hasn't heard of wikipedia! Madness!
And before we go I AM GOING TO GET MY HAIR CUT!!!!! So I'll be able to see all these marvels..or as many of them as we have time for :)
yay!
Sorry, no time for links, I have to be up and rushing early and need to think a little bit about packing!
yay! :)
I am a quite cheerful bunny all of a sudden :)
Have a lovely time when I'm away and sleep well tonight :)
Smoke, brooding hills and windswept trees on the road to The Trough of Bowland in Lancs :)


Remember the wild boar piglets? Growing up and getting to be a bit of a pain for mum!
But for all-out endearing, pigletness, how about the new litter of Tamworths (and some Berkshire Old Spots?)