Sea Day

Today, we head south toward Dover.

​During this sea day, we will pass an enormous offshore wind turbine "farm".

Later in the day, the ship Lido had a "Cake-Me-Away".  They had a lot of cakes and soon started serving.

We had a talk on Dover and its historical significance.

Of course, the cliffs of Dover are known worldwide for the bright white chalk cliffs that can be seen from the shores of France.

The Strait of Dover is the shortest distance between England and mainland Europe which became the primary source of ship traffic between the island and mainland.

During the Stone Age, it is known that this was used as a port because the remains of the world’s oldest sea-going boat from that time period was found in an excavation.

Roman influence was shown to have started before 56 AD and in that year a lighthouse was built to guide ships from Europe to reach the port.

A castle was built during the Napoleonic Wars in 1180 and later the Leeds Castle

Medieval Period
During the medieval period, Dover continued to thrive as a key trading hub. Its strategic position made it a target for invasions, including attempts by Julius Caesar and later by William the Conqueror. The port's defenses were strengthened, leading to the construction of Dover Castle, which has stood as a guardian of the town for centuries. 
dovermuseum.co.uk

In the 1500s, improvements were made to the harbor by Henry VIII, who funded the expansion of the port to improve shipping.

More improvements were made in the late 1800s to support larger ships and cargo.

The port has been a primary site for the British military for wars with France and Spain then later with Germany during World War One and Two.

Near the end of World War II, the castle was used to plan and execute the D-Day Invasion.