I woke up Wednesday morning, headed back to Heathrow Airport, and met up with MS. Dixie Chicken  herself – Sarah McLester!

After navigating our way through 2 train stations, with more luggage than either of us should be carrying, (& a picnic lunch I’m sure I will be dreaming of somewhere in Mongolia…) we made it to THE BUS!

Our home away from home for the next 7 WEEKS!

We found her husband, Don, awaiting our arrival up at the campgrounds’ bar!  RIGHT!  The beverages were cold, and very well earned after a long couple of days of travel. 

One of our UK teammates, Jan, booked the bus and our team at the Little Switzerland Campground – which is a little slice of heaven!  The view is amazing!  It sits along/under the White Cliffs of Dover, and looks out across the English Channel towards the French Coastline.

The Staff here is friendly, has a great bar/restaurant, (but it closes at 5pm), and the internet works (as long as they don’t unplug it to vacuum).  Don, Will and Tommy were here for a few days before Sarah and I arrived and they clearly settled right in making friends with everyone here.  The groundskeeper,  Jock, Scottish, is a HOOT!  We ply him with beers after hours and he entertains us with stories, charges our electronics in his trailer, and keeps giving us stuff for us to take along – (fleece sweaters, LED lanterns, …)  He’s also sharpened Sarah’s Machete!  This guy is GREAT!!

Wednesday night we headed into Folkestone for Dinner at The Local Briton – Fish and Chips OF COURSE!   – cod was the fresh catch of the day.

HEY – where’d all the water go?? Living along the Great Lakes, sometimes I forget about the tides…

Thursday –  Sarah, Don, and I spent the day organizing the Bus & the box Dale had shipped us (YAYE!!)  The Lotus Children’s Center is going to be SO surprised at all the new goodies – donated school & dental supplies, Thanks Dale, & Mindy!

And I added more than 35 handprints from our amazing donors to the bus!

Friday we trek on down the coast to Dover Castle!