InvictaMoto's Family Travels

Today I finished a little early for the Bank Holiday weekend and we decided to have a run out to Bodiam Castle . It is a National Trust site and just across the county border in East Sussex. We have been a few times before and with the lockdowns there has been limited opening.  Now the Castle is open and there are tours. But not for dogs. On arrival we checked in and then paid for the parking or rather got a car-park ticket as members we don't pay but must display a ticket. First port of call was the café alongside the river.  A sausage roll and coffee for both of us. Reggie had his own snacks plus some of the sausage meat from the roll. Then a walk around the loop.   Reggie decided now was time to poop and we had the bags at the ready.  Bins for rubbish and dog waste are few and far between.  We went to the small café above the castle where the bins are situated.  Claire and Reggie Rather than walk all around the Castle on the circular path alongside the moat we went off up to loo

A couple of days and it's all change again. Looking at the trip I decided that three nights in tulip country would be enough for us to enjoy the place and include a visit to the Keukenhof to look at the displays there.   So I have changed the hotel for the first three nights to one in Zandvoort - Hotel XL .  It's only 17kms car park to car park. Walking extra. We are of course keeping our fingers crossed that Covid will be out of the way and that the Keukenhof will be open to the public.  We are talking April 2022 now! The fourth night I have snipped off the original hotel booking and have looked at somewhere in Zeeland on our way back to the Channel port. A few years ago we did the Zeeland route to Assen for the MotoGP. It was very nice meandering on the BMW up through the islands. That was in 2010.   This time the journey will be in reverse.  I looked up the B&B we stayed in back then and it has no vacancies for when we want to go. This maybe that they haven't posted

I got a little bit of a shock when my MasterCard statement arrived this morning.  Instead of paying a deposit on the cottage near Dereham and paying the balance a month before we go, they had taken the entire cost in one go.  Luckily between us we can cover it. Still a shock to shell out £695 when you thought it was only £250! The reason I ticked the box was in case Covid rates soar and we are forced by the Government to cancel we won't be out of pocket! Oh well. What is done is done I guess.

If you can have Staycations, then why not Awaycations. So for what could be the first awaycation I have looked at the Holland bulbfields. We both like 🌷 and Holland in the Netherlands is the home of the bulb. Of course it's not until April 2022.  I'll have been retired a few months by then and we can go on vacation whenever we like.  I have looked ahead and booked a room for four nights near Leiden. Of course it's with the usual "pay later" and "free cancellation" policy. I need to make a diary note to cancel just in case we can't go. At the moment it's for the last week in April. Checking the term dates it looks as though the schools will start the summer term a week earlier. So let's see...

Another trip to Dungeness.  The weather was iffy but we decided to have another drive out and a walk on the shingle away from the train station and the nuclear power station.   It was of course very windy.  So we had jumper and waterproof coats on.  We have been a few times recently and the difference was quite amazing.  A few weeks ago we were the only people in the café garden alongside the tracks. The trains weren't running.  It was windy then and we sat with Reggie on a bench on the platform letting the building shelter us. Today though. The Government had relaxed the Covid lockdown on May 17th and the trains were running. The car-park was full. The café and the two pubs in walking distance were able to have inside customers. Business looked to be back to normal..... We had a cup of coffee and a biscuit we rook with us. Cheapskates! We drank up as we wanted to be away before the train. Reggie has lived with us for six and a half years. The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway run

Today's staycation trip was to Hever Castle.  This is the home of Anne Boleyn.  Google her to find out what happened to the strumpet.  Hint. Chop! We had a 65 mile drive and the Nissan satnav had us on some very odd little roads. On the map it looks as though it zigzagged across country but I am sure the more direct main roads although longer, would have been quicker. Photos?  I took the D50 and it has the setting where it takes three pictures on every click!  So I was a little surprised as I had forgotten the setup, and how to undo it! Here's a few.... The others are in a Facebook album .

I had a half day Flexi-leave today. Firstly to take my Rocket III for its MoT and then to go out for the afternoon. The MoT went off okay and I was back soon after noon.  First run to Hythe for a spot of shopping for dinner.  The second to Dungeness with Reggie along for a walk. It was windy and although sunny, the wind made it chilly. After a coffee on the platform of the Light Railway station we walked across to the Polish War Memorial.  Reggie likes a sniff about and to check out the entrances to the rabbit warrens.  At the memorial we saw that the information board had been removed.   It gives information on the two Polish pilots that died nearby during the Battle of Britain. We guessed it was for a reason as the wreaths and other memorials were still in place. Hopefully, the next time we go it will have been replaced. From there we drove home. It was way past Reggie's dinner time after all!!

A short trip to the White Cliffs National Trust for a walk with Reggie. A chance to try out his new harness and car attachment.  Both seemed to work very well. I took only one picture today. Only because on the left of the Eastern Docks was moored a Disney Cruise ship.  Usually cruise ships arrive and depart from the Western Docks. There is a large reception building that way back in the mists of time was the railway termnal for freight going out of Dover and also part of the upper classes' access to the ships.

At the moment the National Trust places where there are houses and/or gardens are restricting the numbers allowed in and they are running a timed entry system.  The garden opens at 11am and I booked a ticket for entry between 11am and 1130am. On a sunny Bank Holiday Sunday the place would be teeming with visitors and coach parties. Today it was all very quiet and relaxing. Maybe they should keep the timed entry system all the time? Weather good and we left the dog at home. Although dogs are allowed everywhere outdoors on the estate they aren't allowed in the gardens.  So I could have a look we left him at home. I took rather too many photos.  Here are a selection from the sunny, then cloudy, then sunny again day. You may guess I like tulips. Claire checking some flowers on her phone The woman in yellow again getting in the photos! And here she is again!