The Front Page - Copy 85 (Dover Building Site, Volcanic Fallout)
17 April 2010
With the volatile volcanic ash problem suddenly bringing all sorts of disgruntled trolley pulling visitors to and through, but particularly through, Dover ...we would just like to tell them that its not always this bad. Come back and see us later.
Volcanic Ash Fallout: Not the fallout itself you understand, but the other kind of fallout. The human fallout. This has seen hordes trundling through Dover all day long and last night too. Forumite John Goodwin (JHG) informed us in the comments section below that the Rail people are working non-stop to keep on top of the newly found demand for services to Dover.
The picture on the left shows some of this human stream in search of a ferry. Note the blonde haired woman in the picture. On a warm day dressed in an anorak, she is pulling two heavy suitcases and has a rucksack on her back as well. Heavy going for some. Surely some form of travel between the station and the port is not out of the question?
The Black Hole: Well here we are shown just below...following mentions of the infamous 'Black Hole' below in the comments section, Ive had a trawl through my picture archives..which can be quite a painful experience I can tell you, and eventually found the culprit in question. Imagine strolling along the prom prom prom, taking the light seabreezes, and this thing opens up before you. It would almost be as phenomenal an experience as Moses parting the Red Sea...well almost. This is the original hole which appeared out of the blue, and another one appeared later too. A young Vic Matcham aged 60 or more, was down there, sleeves rolled up, hammering seven bells out of the replacement pilings which were needed to prop the thing up again. So, not a lot of people know this, but you take your life in your hands strolling along Dover seafront...as you just dont know when it will happen again. Be afraid, be very afraid!!:-)
PaulB
Taking the Long Way Home:
As the volatility of the volcanic situation continues unabated, the poor ol bewildered and beleagured tourist wanders round and round like that headless chicken of legend. The town is full of vacant faced lost souls tugging luggage. The group above, to make life even more rosy, had just walked all the way to the end of the seafront in search of ferry access. But of course there is no way through. Now they return searching for the right way. In the foreground you can just see the tiny signs which they should have seen earlier. Slap wrist you tourists! The docks are thataway... people have been doing this all day, walking to the end of the seafront. They see the ferries and go for it, but no its not that easy. Personally one was almost tempted to put on a cap and a fluorescent jacket and go down and spend the day directing them in the right direction, as one feels sorry for their plight. Sad that even this small memory of Dover wont enhance their opinion of it. One or two have even climbed over the retaining wall and attempted to cross the five lane traffic riddled highway. Not good.Building Site Dover!
With the arrival of the monster crane yesterday (fri 16) the scenario is complete...total building site!! Yes down here on the once pretty seafront, all is not well, but we can endure.. and feel comfortable in the knowledge that once the work is complete, it will be even more attractive than before. Thats the idea anyway, but as has often been said..the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. So, fingers crossed!With the volatile volcanic ash problem suddenly bringing all sorts of disgruntled trolley pulling visitors to and through, but particularly through, Dover ...we would just like to tell them that its not always this bad. Come back and see us later.
Volcanic Ash Fallout: Not the fallout itself you understand, but the other kind of fallout. The human fallout. This has seen hordes trundling through Dover all day long and last night too. Forumite John Goodwin (JHG) informed us in the comments section below that the Rail people are working non-stop to keep on top of the newly found demand for services to Dover.The picture on the left shows some of this human stream in search of a ferry. Note the blonde haired woman in the picture. On a warm day dressed in an anorak, she is pulling two heavy suitcases and has a rucksack on her back as well. Heavy going for some. Surely some form of travel between the station and the port is not out of the question?
The Black Hole: Well here we are shown just below...following mentions of the infamous 'Black Hole' below in the comments section, Ive had a trawl through my picture archives..which can be quite a painful experience I can tell you, and eventually found the culprit in question. Imagine strolling along the prom prom prom, taking the light seabreezes, and this thing opens up before you. It would almost be as phenomenal an experience as Moses parting the Red Sea...well almost. This is the original hole which appeared out of the blue, and another one appeared later too. A young Vic Matcham aged 60 or more, was down there, sleeves rolled up, hammering seven bells out of the replacement pilings which were needed to prop the thing up again. So, not a lot of people know this, but you take your life in your hands strolling along Dover seafront...as you just dont know when it will happen again. Be afraid, be very afraid!!:-)PaulB