On the Road Again!

With the car in the garage for its annual service, we decided to take the bus into Folkestone. The journey takes about 30 minutes. Thanks to being senior citizens we travel free on buses after the time people will be going to work and school. We got the bus around 1030. POSH. Anyone remember that? We live on the South coast of England. Folkestone is only about 5 miles to the east.  So "port out, starboard home" is the order of the day. If you know, you know. Firstly, a stop in Boots for Claire to use up some vouchers, and then down the Old High Street. The Old High Street has lots of blue plaques explaining what businesses occupied each building in the 19th and 20th centuries. It's now very arty now, and the plaques show that it used to be where the working class lived and worked. A stop at a bakery to get a huge cheese scone and a cake that looks like a pork pie.... Our next port of call was the bus stop at the bottom of the hill by the harbour. T...

Traditionally, the Illegal Eagles play Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall in February.  This year, or rather 2025, the date has been snaffled by the Marlowe in Canterbury. So instead Folkestone with host them in July.  I have tickets bought early to get a decent central view.  This year we were to the side.

It's become an annual event, going to the LCH to watch the Illegal Eagles.  This tribute band are superb. Their vocal harmonies are a mirror for the original Eagles.  This year the ticket email arrived and by the time I got online the tickets were almost sold out.  Not wanting to miss out I ended up booking two tickets in the side block rather than our usual central seats. Must do better next time. The concert is always superb. This year they are later on April 5th rather than February. https://www.illegaleagles.com/

I saw that the Zakk Wylde ban "Black Label Society" were going to be touring and actually at the Leas Cliff Hall in June. It's not the sort of music that would interest Claire and so I bought one ticket.  I haven't listed to much of there metal output so have been catching up with albums that are free (or included!) in my Amazon Prime. So far so good. Looking forward to a ride down there on Vera for an evening of "biker metal"!

The band were back at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone. This is the first time since the pandemic. Unlike most tribute bands they don't try and look like the Eagles but they do a great job of sounding like them! Another great show.

First stop of the morning was up to meet fellow Meldrew Cal Price at the Cliff Top Café.  I was a little late as I was stuck behind a tractor and trailer through Saltwood and all the way onto the A20.  These things are massive. The one I followed today was over half the road wide through the village. Oncoming vehicles were almost up the walls and banks to make space and he was on the pavement with the nearside wheels.  Too big for our roads. Once clear of this road block I had a run down the A20 to Capel and the Café. Cal had already arrived and I parked up in the bike park area. He'd ordered but the queue was too long for me to bother. Gradually the queue got longer and longer. I don't usually go to this café as despite having plentiful outdoor seating they are anti-dog.  As a dog owner I have been spoken to very rudely by one of the staff before I had even set foot on their land.  Between the café and the 150ft drop into the sea, there is a public footpath. I ...

Meldrews Sunday might be a little different this month as we are planning to join in a run for Skabour in Folkestone. Breakfast at the bike (but not dog friendly!) Cliff Top Café at Capel.  A chance for Vera to join a ride out with a load of stinkwheels made by Vespa and Lambretta plus more recent 4-strokes.  My mate Cal will be on his new Honda Forza 350. The Facebook post does say: All on 2 wheels are welcome at our FAMOUS yearly Skabour Ride Out! You DO NOT need a festival ticket to join in, meet at 11:30 outside the Burstin, setting off at 12pm. Trophies up for grabs. Quick stop off in the middle for a cheeky (non-alcoholic) pint And then BACK TO THE FESTIVAL for more SUN SEA AND SKA! We need a breakfast first!

What better way to spend a cold winter's evening in Folkestone. The Illegal Eagles at the Leas Cliff Hall. Once again in February! Another superb performance from what has to be the best tribute band in the world. They don't try to dress or look like the Eagles but can sing like the original band members.  Each of them accomplished musicians in their own right. I didn't take any photos this time as I was more interested at listening to the music. Back in 2021?   

Had a run into Folkestone for a walk around the harbour and harbour arm. The harbour area is being tidied up and with it the old Folkestone Harbour Station. All this tarting up really means that the chances of it becoming a ferry port again has faded away. The Arm has many food stalls and most were open. I baulk at £9 for mussels and chips! The portion didn't look too huge either. We stopped at Bob's Seafood for whelks and a crab sandwich. Very nice. Me at Bob's Pano of harbour Chummy's Seafood Claire outside her old workplace. After a coffee and a biscuit at a new cafe in the old signal box we headed for home. Not before a selfie. Selfie.

Anyone see anything odd about this clock? http://www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk/artist/ruth-ewan/

Although having a day off work today I was up reasonably early to let Reggie out. They were shooting on the Ranges over the coast road and driving Reggie mad. Once off. First stop McDonalds for a sausage and egg mcmuffin. Once before they put the second patty in a box rather than on the bun for Reggie. No luck this time. I drove and parked by The Grand on the Leas and we had breakfast. McMuffin for me and the extra sausage patty for Reggie. Once finished we had a walk along The Leas towards the bandstand before he turned around and decided he'd had enough. Walk over. Mundane shopping for bird feeders and a visit to Pets at Home for Reggie to browse their latest wares.

Superb again. The Illegal Eagles - six piece tribute band don't try and look like The Eagles but the sound.  Wow. Close your eyes and it could be the real thing from those far off days of the 70's and 80's.

A walkabout today just me and Reggie. Along the Leas and into  St Mary and St Eanswythe's churchyard. Claire was at Specsavers to get her glasses repaired and maybe get a new pair!  Reggie not too good in crowds, especially when people walk to close and almost knee him in the face!   There are so many old gravestones in there that now are indecipherable that unless the church has records who knows who is buried where. They are hundreds of years in the ground. On the way back we stopped to look at the sea and the beach by the Lower Leas and the memorial arch.

Last week I was sent a flyer for this tribute band with the offer of 2 for 1 tickets. Why not. And what a great time we had. The band are excellent musicians and sound very Plant-like! Their new set, tonight the first of the 2018 tour, was in Folkestone. Playing a track from each of the original was a good idea and I was only in the dark with a couple of them. Great night.