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

Two Cinque Fort castles

looking down at Deal from Deal Castle

Lottie woke us early but Van-Man was happy because the water pump was still working properly. After breakfast we set off for Deal Castle. The car park was roomy so Van-Man parked next to the grass. As Deal Castle did not allow dogs inside we went our separate ways. I had the first look at the castle which was built on an unusual set of five semi circles at the base while Van-Man walked Lottie on the beach.

I walked the outside of the castle first and noticed Van-Man heading to a bench with Lottie after a very brief visit to the beach.

Cannons pointing out to sea

I enjoyed the inside of the castle which was intact with displays in most of the rooms but found the lowest level, called the rounds very dark as I only had my prescription sunglasses on. At one point I thought the underground passage came to an abrupt end but I groped my way forward and found the passage went through a right angle turn.

 round central keep

When we met up at Sally our motor home Van-Man told me that the beach was all shingle which Lottie did not care to walk on. He promptly went to look around the castle while I settled down to wait in Sally with the disgruntled hound. Once he was out of sight she relaxed on the grass.

After lunch we walked along to the RNLI boat houses which hosed two rescue boats, a small rib for inshore work and a larger boat for rescues out to sea.

the outside of the rounds

After returning to Sally we drove to Walmer Castle which was only five miles along the coast. This castle car park was almost full but we found a space at the far end. Van-Man viewed the castle first while I walked Lottie. She didn’t want to go on the shingle but a wide belt of grass ran alongside the coastal path. When we met Van-Man she took him back to the motor home and lay beside it on the grass watching the sheep graze. She couldn’t do more than watch as she was on her extending lead.

low lying castle with thick walls

Walmer Castle was similar to Deal except that it only had four circular parts to its base. The gardens were lovely with a fine display of daffodils, tulips and primroses. This castle was lived in so only certain rooms could be visited. However the Duke of Wellington and the Queen Mother had stayed there so it was full of interesting history.

The Life Boat station

Once I arrived back at the van we returned to the campsite without any traffic problems. While Van-Man refilled with water and drained the grey water at the service point I walked Lottie round the dog walk. She settled down well for the evening in spite of the lack of sand to exercise on barely noticing when we ate our dinner.

the way to Canterbury

Let's explore

Van-Man worked hard at de-winterising the van first thing in the morning while I loaded clothes, pillows and duvet. The trickiest bit was manoeuvring the beds down the stairs without our Lurcher grabbing them helpfully. Yes that was the down side of Van-Man removing the mattresses and soft furnishings over winter.

I was filling the fridge when I realised Van-Man was perplexed.

“The water pump’s not working,” he muttered and phoned the caravan service people who had just given our motor home its first service.

Suddenly he announced “They’re going to look at it now,” and dashed off. They found the problem after checking everything and Van-Man returned home for lunch. We finally set off at 13.45 three hours later than normal.

I took over driving at Clacket Lane services and was fine even with the narrow lanes through the road works. However I fumbled the gears when changing down at the end of my drive. Van-Man was not amused. “You’ll ruin the gearbox,” he said.

Gorse

I got my revenge by not spotting he had taken the wrong turn in Canterbury. Well I was reading the map at the time. After turning round we found the right road to Sandwich and came to a stop. Road works beyond the junction had caused a long tailback. It took over twenty minutes to creep to the men digging a huge hole.

on the track

Van-Man liked the camp site but was surprised that 80% of the caravan and motor home pitches were taken. By contrast there was one lonely tent in the corner. Our pitch was level so we didn’t need our ramps. Before Van-Man could drink his cup of coffee Lottie demanded a toilet trip. Leaving his cup untouched he took her to the dog walk and fed her as soon as he got back.

As soon as he had settled down with his book Lottie demanded a proper walk so we set off to explore the nearby heath land following directions to a pub in the next village.

After crossing the road we were soon walking across a wide expanse of land with gorse in full bloom. The weather was mild and there was no wind. We didn’t find the pub so it was just as well that we had dinner back at the van.

At last we could relax as our hound fell asleep.

February at home

When the weather is cold and I’ve been unwell I’m glad I can write and paint. As long as I don’t have to move I can work and enjoy it. Last month I painted birds of prey and horses. This month I’m moving through the different breeds of dogs. There are so many and so many variations between breeds that the various combinations are countless. Next time someone asks have you got a breed I haven’t painted I won’t feel silly.

However bad I feel Lottie still needs her walk. Today she trotted ahead briskly as if following some alluring scent. Whatever it was she didn’t find anything. I was amazed at the signs of spring all around, from snowdrops to crocus tips. Above the birds in the trees are full of song. It seems far from the snow of last week.

We may not be travelling but there is plenty to see on our doorstep.

homeward bound

It was still mild in the morning but it was wet and windy, not good for our return drive home. Van-Man spent ten minutes emptying the grey water at the service point. He kept nipping out to see how it was draining then jumping back into the cab to keep dry. Why didn’t he just put on his raincoat? As we drove off the camp site there were areas where it wasn’t raining so we headed for a beach to give Lottie a last run on the beach before the long drive home. I suggested Harlyn Bay as it was on the route to the A 30 and it had a car park. The last mile to the beach was down a single track road but it had lots of passing places. We parked right by the beach.

We had a half hour walk on the beach in drizzle with the wind lashing in our faces on the way down to the sea. Lottie made the most of the beach walk but we were all wet. It was hard to get our wet coats away, but I laid one coat over the shower and the other over the sink. Thank goodness we have a wet room for our bathroom.

We changed into dry clothes and set out at10.55. As he had driven to Harlyn Bay Van-Man asked me to drive once we were on theA30 so we changed at a lay-by. It rained all the way to just before Exeter but I had a trouble free trip trundling along at 55 mph or less where the road was exposed to the wind. As soon as we changed drivers the rain stopped.

Van-Man stopped in a big lay-by near Honiton for lunch, then Van-Man drove a second time. I took over before Stonehenge and managed to go all the way to Fleet services on the M3. There was nowhere to park so we changed drivers and setoff straight away.

We had no trouble until we reached the M25 when we had to queue to join it.

It has been a tiring trip but worth it to help our daughter. It’s a shame that our commitments prevented us from staying longer.

Holywell

After breakfast we returned to Porthcothen beach thankful for the mild weather. This time another dog walker was crossing the sand. Lottie played chase with the two labradors until they left the beach then explored the base of the cliff.

the rocks at Holywell

Van-Man intended followed the diversion again but we only met cars.

Our son in law headed off to see our daughter in hospital leaving us looking after the youngest twp children. In between playing with them I concentrated on the laundry and sorted out the main meal while Van-Man tackled the cleaning.

Our son-in-law collected the children from school and we set out to walk our restless hound at Holywell. This is a place we love. There is parking for the Motor Home and a lovely walk to the sea over sandy grass across a stream then up through high dunes.

Holywell beach

Finally we emerged on the peaceful beach, strewn with pretty shells and pebbles. Lottie explored the dunes and raced across the beach. When we reached the stream she paddled in to cool down and drank. Back at my daughters she wolfed down her dinner then curled up in the corner behind a chair where children couldn’t accidentally run into her.

After a lovely family meal I helped get the children to bed while Van-Man cleared up again. Finally we headed back to Padstow leaving our son-in-law still putting the children to bed. It was good to rest in peace in our lovely Motor Home after the bustle we had left behind.

Narrow diversion

We woke up late, just before 8.00. Van-Man walked Lottie round the small fenced off square for dogs and then we had a quick breakfast before heading to Porthcothen beach for probably our only fresh air for the day. The wind had lessened overnight and the morning was mild. The beach was deserted, making it more alluring than normal. Only one other dog walker arrived as we were leaving. The waves started rolling up the beach as we retreated but there was still plenty of golden sand to walk on.

Cooling down after chasing seagulls

Van-Man intended going to our daughter’s house via the wider road but the road was diverted at Morgan Porth. The narrow winding road with infrequent passing places was not the best route for a short but plump motor home but the only other way was back to Padstow and a huge diversion. Predictably we met a lorry on a narrow section.

Seagull

Van-Man pulled tight to the stone wall. I pulled in the wing mirror and he inched forward. The lorry crept towards us and it was obvious that he couldn’t get through the gap.

The lorry driver signaled that we should reverse so reluctantly Van-Man inched backwards. As we cornered backwards a side turn opened up opposite us. Van-Man stopped opposite it and the lorry squeezed past.  We headed off again and this time got through the narrow section before meeting a big van at a wider place.

gull flying

We reached our daughters town from the wrong side so Van-Man had to negotiate streets barely wider than his van. At last we pulled up in our daughters drive much later than intended.

Our son in law headed off for work doing a large landscaping job for a client while we looked after the youngest child and tackled the housework. I concentrated on the laundry while Van-Man tackled the kitchen hampered by Verity playing with him. They enjoyed their games so much that she fell asleep just as I was about to do the school run.

I set off alone and collected Asher from Preschool. Then I headed to the main school. I picked the first two children up fine but Asher disappeared on the way to the third classroom. I panicked but a helpful friend of my daughters steered him back to me.

The walk home was uneventful and the children were well behaved. I made macaroni cheese for them all and helped get the children to bed while Van-Man cleared up again. Finally we ate a beef stew that a church member had made with a weary son-in-law.

We headed back to Padstow about 20.30 bleary eyed with a resigned hound. Fortunately the weather was dry and warm for January with the temperature 9 C