Lonewolf Moves Down South

[Boomer]

Bodiam Castle in itself isn't that interesting as it's a half-ruin but it looks good from outside and the history is fun.
The train ride is real "take you back to childhood" stuff. I kept wanting to lean out the window and shout "ToooooooT-ToooooT" 
The train is a 5 minute walk from the castle so maybe drive to Tenterden, take the train, see the castle, train back again.

Leeds Castle isn't bad but as you say, pretty expensive. They usually have a Falconry demo, Archery tryout, gardens, lakes, playgrounds for kids, the castle itself (full of expensive stuff and bling as well as some history. I wouldn't say its worth £21 each. We paid £15 each a few years ago.

If you fancy a day out for all, try Rochester. Has a Norman Castle and an olde high street.
My personal favourite attraction in the area is Chatham Docks. Lots of ships and history and the ropery (they make ropes) and a submarine and art galleries, and ......
I've been twice and I'll be going again.

I have an older Nikon D80 with the 18-135 lens. Good cameras Nikon.

[Lonewolf]

Boomer we went to Bodiam Castle today and to be fair I enjoyed it, I like anything like that whatever the condition of the castle, its all part of history. I could spend hours at old castles imagining what life used to be like centuries ago living in one.


In contrast to the castle there is a Second World War bunker in front of it which you can enter. Two rooms inside one which would have housed the big gun and then the other for the snipers. The large opening on the forward facing wall is where the big gun would have been mounted. You can see the gun mount on the second photo.















Must have been a very unpleasant environment to live in and probably die in.


The bird killer Spaniel of ours had his eyes on the ducks which were everywhere in the grounds of the castle, no way could I have let him off the lead without a bloodshed.





A well preserved castle I thought compared to some I've seen throughout the country.












Some very ornate wood carvings within the grounds too.












There were even some conservation type geezers getting some soil samples to test for something, they did tell me what they were doing but it sounded a bit boring so I didn't take much notice.





I saw my first windmill down here today as well, turned up the track before I realised it was somebody's house so took the photo from a discreet distance and then retreated.





So from what started out as a wet and miserable morning it turned into a half decent day, dry and comfortably warm. Took the dogs to the beach near Camber before coming back to the holiday home to watch some Harry Potter vids.

[Rusty]

Glad to see it's all going well down here Steve ... told you about Hastings !!

Very glad to see the bird killer being restrained om a lead ... just imagine the carnage with all those ducks !!

[Lonewolf]

Nigel, yes you did mention something about Hastings   We went back to Brighton today and actually managed to get parked! Didn't stay long though, only about an hour. Some big black guy said we couldn't take the dogs onto the pier, couldn't see any signs, no idea who this dude was but he was much bigger than me so if he said no dogs on the pier, there would be no dogs on the pier!!!


I'll post the last instalment of the photos on tonight and tomorrow we get to play on the M25 again as we head back to civilisation in Bradford.


It's been a decent trip and it was great to meet up again, only a few weeks now till the 'Other Trip',  , Och Aye The Noo!

[Lonewolf]

Here you go, Brighton's version of the London Eye.





The famous pier.








Who has a sweet tooth?





The beach looked good, but as with the pier, hounds not permitted.

[Rusty]

Nice piccies of course ... amazed to see the beach almost empty. Glad you made it back ok to the homeland.

[2kwacks]

Steve as usually excellent pictures and write up now you know why I don't bother posting to many of my pictures how can I compete with another "David bailey"

p.s liked the mud colour on the greenie gtr