Southern England is built of bedrock made up predominantly of chalk, which originates from calcareous algae that lived in the sea tens of millions of years ago. The White Cliffs of Dover provide a striking view over this very busy port. Here ferries and hovercraft come and go in a constant stream to the Continent.
It is also a terminus for one of the largest engineering efforts of last century, the English Channel Tunnel. By high-speed train through the tunnel, it takes about three hours to go from central Paris to central London. High-speed trains in Europe are a popular option, compared to spending time waiting in airports!
We are about to set sail to explore the British and Irish Isles. This trip will take us to many isolated islands, very rarely visited by travelers. We expect to encounter abundant marine life and sea bird nesting cliffs with uncountable numbers of Puffins, Gannets, and Fulmars. Our first ports of call will be Sark and Alderney, the Channel Islands.
This trip is also a great eye into history. Everything from Neolithic remains to modern oil industry operations is evident around the Orkney Islands. We will visit sites used by the Celts, Picts, and Vikings, and sites of great navel battles from the Spanish Armada to the First and Second World Wars.
It is summer, and we look forward to enjoying abundant and diverse wildflowers in bloom both in the wild and in several gardens along the route. Welcome aboard the Caledonian Star!
