Canterbury Culture

The Cathedral from the city wall

Park inside the city wall

Van-Man decided to visit Canterbury city centre today by bus. Lottie breakfasted blissfully unaware of the trip ahead. We were unsure how she would react to a bus ride as she loves the car and motor home and loved our old boat. However she hates trains which meant we could be in for trouble. We walked to the bus stop outside the camp site and she looked puzzled as we stopped there instead of crossing over to the wild heath the far side of the road.

Dane John Monument

The 9.50 bus stopped and the driver was happy to take a large Lurcher on board. We headed to the back of the bus where there was some space. She was fine until the bus drove away then began trembling. One leg quivered all the way but fortunately the journey was swift without delays at the road works.

Once we disembarked we followed the old city wall clockwise heading for the Dane John monument which was perched high on an ancient Saxon burial mound. The views were fabulous from the top.

Don Jon House

We continued on to the Norman castle but were disappointed to find it closed due to falling masonry. From the castle we went outside the city wall, crossed the ring road and followed along the river through natural meadows. Our only problem was that we had to carry our coats which we had worn as the weather was supposed to be cool and the sun came out masking them redundant.

The Norman Castle

We enjoyed the spring bulbs and old buildings while Lottie enjoyed being off the lead. She cooled off in the river and waited patiently while we sat on a bench eating our packed lunch. Of course we gave her some. We walked on into Westgate gardens where Lottie had to go back on the lead and back into the city through the Westgate Towers.

Westgate Gardens

From there we went up St Peters Street and the High street where I realised I needed a greetings card. Having bought it I needed a stamp as the card shop only sold them in booklets. While we were wondering where to get a stamp a stranger approached and passed me one saying he had plenty. How kind that was. Other locals had also been helpful offering directions when they saw us reading the city map at various points. The city is to be commended on its cheerful helpful population.

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We had coffee outside a well known coffee chain and Lottie rested quietly at our feet. Coffee drunk we headed to the cathedral but decided not to go in as the entrance fee was£12.50 an adult. As dogs probable were not allowed in we would only have been able to have a quick look around in turns while the other consoled Lottie so we walked on.

unusual tree at Westgate

Westgate towers

It was not far to St Augustine’s abbey but it was only open at the weekend. Next week it will be open midweek on the summer timetable. We peeked at the university buildings as we retreated to the bus station. Lottie waited patiently but shook pathetically when we boarded the bus. We were trying to place the large Lurcher sitting out of the way n the floor by a window but she kept backing out.

“Do sit here,” a man suggested politely, vacating his seat next to the emergency door.

Medieval house at Westgate

We thanked him, the fourth kind person we had met in the city and Lottie decided the gap was acceptable. However she trembled all the way back to our stop. We were back at our van by 1.00 but three hours was probably as long as Lottie could cope with and you can’t go shopping with a feisty Lurcher telling you to hurry up after waiting a few minutes outside a shop.

Van-Man made a brew while I wrote on and addressed the card. Meanwhile Lottie relaxed on her patch of grass outside the van watching for rabbits which roam across the site.

Westgate Towers

 old University building

Spring blossom

At 15.00 we set out to post the card but the nearest post box was half a mile away towards Canterbury. After posting the card we found a path straight onto the heath land that ran just behind the houses. Using a sat nav we found a walk to a lake and then curved back to the camp site across the heath. It took us an hour and a half to return to Sally. We must have walked miles today.

St Augustine's Abbey