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squiz
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Member#: 1 Location: Registered: 21-07-2002 Diary Entries: 2989
Mood: Just Chillin Dude
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15th April 2021
Hiking - Walking: Lullingstone Country Park, Kent. Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: Distance Covered: 3.50 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Thursday 15th April - walk ***** - Lullingstone Country Park, Kent –
sunny periods and showers.
We arranged to meet our son Robert and Grandson Arlo at Lullingstone
Country Park in Kent, fairly central for both of us to drive. Mag spent all
yesterday morning making yummy sausage rolls, scotch eggs, chocolate
brownies and a swiss roll for our picnic. Lleaving home at 9.30 we had an
uneventful journey over the Dartford bridge even though it was quite busy
and we are definitely out of the swing of driving and are not keen,
surprising really as we have done many thousand of miles in our small
campervan, spending over 1200 nights away. We are not missing it at the
moment and in fact we think this year will be a nightmare with everyone
staying in the UK and all the good places will be way too crowded:( I Had a
message from someone I am buying two windsurfing masts from who lives in
Whitstable saying he was sadly delayed delivering them to Brightlingsea as
previously arranged, we messaged to say we were on the way to Kent so he
drove over to deliver them, top result:) With lockdown easing Arlo had just
been to see his other Grandparents in Devon, only returning yesterday, and
then was straight in the car to meet up with us but he was excited to see
us. Its been a long time since we last saw them, November in fact! Mag
found this country park online and it proved the perfect spot to meet up
with a top car park and only £1.50 for the day. It is in beautiful rolling
Kent countryside with oust house, vineyards, old villages and castles:) Rob
and Arlo were already there as were my masts, after a quick chat with Simon
he headed for home so we could then say our hellos to Rob and Arlo! There
are several marked walks around farmland, woods and the golf course which
was ideal even though the weather could have been better being for the most
part cloudy with some sleety rain late but the sun did come out now and
again! Arlo had his balance bike so we headed down to the shallow fast
flowing River Darent to start the walk, with Arlo loving it:) The river
then ran into a large private lake that was joined to Lullingstone Castle,
more of a big country house really. The lane continued to a Roman villa
housed in a large building which was all closed. We then followed the black
walk markers up the hill through farmland with stunning views all around
with trains crossing an impressive viaduct behind us! The walk passed
through woods with the first bluebells and a field of rape just turning
yellow and through the golf course. It was a long way for Arlo’s little
legs so we had to carry the bike and from time to time he was lucky to get
a ride on his Dad’s shoulders. The black route was too long so we took
the blue then red back down to the van where we had to shelter for a while
as the rain arrived - chilly too! Back at our van with the diesel heater on
we warmed up while enjoying the picnic, the chocolate brownies being
particularly good:) Rested after lunch we had a quick walk to the little
park but that was busy and it was cold so we decided to say our goodbyes:(
We made it home OK, well apart from some young lady, well I say lady very
loosely, giving me the finger after I gave her the look when she had just
thrown her litter out of the car window, in fact the verges were very bad
on the M 25 and A12, there is little hope for the world really as people
just don’t give a toss! Sadly, Rob and Arlo got stuck for hours on the
poxy M 25, that road is a complete disaster and to be avoided at all costs
and the hour journey actually took them 4 hours:( I hope that didn’t
spoil an otherwise perfect day and fingers crossed we will get to see them
again in May:)
Photo Gallery Here
Lullingstone Country Park
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