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Bertie canters thru Kent
  • Martin and Debbie Kinally

Bertie canters thru Kent

A wander along the North coast of Kent stopping frequently to assess the and beer quality in pubs along the way. Leggi altro
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  • Inizio del viaggio
    26 giugno 2025
    Martin and Debbie KinallyBertie canters thru KentViaggiatore
    2112

    Rochester for starters

    27 giugno, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Wotcher maties, Bertie here to tell you tales of our Kentish caper.
    All packed and we have a decent drive down south Thursday via M1, M25 round North London across the Dartford Crossing and arrive at a small site 4 mile south of Rochester.
    But what have we here on site, not one but 3 old buses on the field, with another five inside some old garages. Well his nibs thinks it's Christmas come early! . The elderly site owner together with a band of equally old cronies are restoring and running various buses for classic vehicle shows. He says we might just spend all our time here and help out, hope he is jokin!

    Well Friday comes and theym off on the nearby train to visit Rochester on the banks of the River Medway. From the station over the river and up the main street of the town, lots of pubs, cafes and fine assorted old buildings it really is very nice. He gets lured into what claims is the, second biggest bookshop in England by a collection of RAF bomber books, and the room of books inside is truly amazing.

    Next stop is Rochester Castle, but ers forgot her English Heritage card, so there follows a few choice words between em which I won't divulge. As it is the castle is quite small but very tall with huge amount of steps and just walls so they give it a miss anyway, and peace is restored.

    Next the cathedral and a very impressive building it is too Parts of it are the oldest in England. Returning to the High Street and Wetherspoons have Thornbidge Jaipur on tap so that's the late lunch sorted.    Leggi altro

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    122

    Restoration House

    27 giugno, Inghilterra ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Next stop is an AI recommendation tucked away in the back streets, Restoration House and Gardens. Dating back to 1500s it is several houses all connected over the years to form one building. For you bookworms, Dickens based it as Miss Havishams house in Great Expectations. (old Charlie Dickens is big in this part of England). Over the years different owners acquired various bits of building and added a mish mash of furnishings and it is has a lived in unrestored feel to it which is it's charm even the visitors bog is authentic. Huge amount of owners over the years left their mark even (and I kid you not) Rod Hull and Emu from 1984 to 1994!

    After all that a return walk down the High Street and as it's hot, a refreshing pint in a micro pub to round off which was a super visit to a quite wonderful town. Rochester - you've be been great.    Leggi altro

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  • Martin and Debbie KinallyBertie canters thru KentViaggiatore
    2211

    Hot, Hot, Hot

    28 giugno, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    SATURDAY
    Well, they were really lazy today, very late getting up, so instead of breakfast, had brunch, boy I'm hot today, almost 30 degrees.
    The bus restorers are in full force today and early afternoon come and warn us they're going to try and start the doubles decker parked next to us, it may be smoky they said. Martin started chatting to one of the men who offered to take him on a tour of the sheds, his little face lit up, he even got to sit in the drivers seat. Eventually, after a lot of tinkering with the engine, apparently one of the last buses to be made with a front engine, they got it started. Late afternoon, they walked into the village for a leg stretch and a pint of Ghost Ship. The pub had got a fun day with music and a BBQ a back to sit in some shade under me canopy.

    SUNDAY
    Today is moving day with a couple of stops planned on the way. First up is Upnor Castle, a National Heritage site on the banks of the Medway River. They parked me up and go for a walk to Lower Upnor alongside the river before taking the footpath to Upnor which really is one cobbled road with some beautiful little cottages and two pubs which leads to the castle. It's a little place and not quite such a ruin as they were expecting with rooms and towers with rickety spiral staircases for them, well Martin, to explore.
    They retrace our way up the hill, stopping at one of the smallest pubs seen, that was until you walk inside and find a rabbit warren of rooms and a big pub garden.
    The next stop is the Isle of Sheppy via the elevated bridge. Unfortunately, as it's by the coast and it's a lovely day , top end of the 20's, almost 30 degrees again, there's nowhere to park along the marine drive with camper vans and caravans there for the day, weekend or month by the look of them , so on to our next stop.
    Two nights at Woodhill Campsite just outside Faversham, lovely site, but should be for the price he says, we will see......    Leggi altro

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    111

    Footprints around Faversham

    30 giugno, Inghilterra ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today, theym off to Faversham, but because we're in the middle of nowhere, it means using up some of the kids' inheritance on a taxi. As per normal, no Ubers about, so it's finding a local cab to pick em up. Surprisingly, that goes well, and there is only a short wait for the taxi, so far so good.
    On arrival, they head straight towards the Quays, a footpath that runs alongside the river passing the Shepherds Neame brewery, one of the oldest breweries in the country. Unfortunately, the tide was out, so the boats were grounded in the mud, but it was a lovely location for one of the new build houses and converted barns.
    After this, they walked down the Medieval road, full of timbered houses, lots with interesting plaques on them. Next, of course, they fancied a drink and couldn't do the brewery tour as it's not open Monday's. To be honest, not a lot is open in Favershamon Mondays, so Wetherspoons it is again. They wandered about a bit more but it's so very hot so decide to go back to the van, by this time it's about 4 o'clock, school chucking out time, do you think they can get a taxi, No, they tried every taxi company in Faversham and no one was available for at least an hour. So what to do now to kill an hour or so, they contemplated a meal but weren't hungry, the Nachos at Wetherspoons had filled em up, so decided to try out the Micro pub, Furlongs. A good choice of beer, but instead, opt for a Gin n Tonic and two halves of Cider.
    Back outside in the still hot town, the search for a taxi again. Still no luck, Mart thinks they're all at home having their tea. In the end, a wait about half an hour before the driver who brought em could bring em home , a long day in hot conditions but on the whole Faversham is a nice place.    Leggi altro

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    11

    Canter Around Canterbury

    1 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Moving day again, this time we're heading for the Park and Ride just outside Canterbury, they have a dedicated Motorhome parking area where you can stay overnight, that's the plan, until we get there,. The park and ride is great, and so is the Motorhome parking, if you like being packed in like a sardine. The hottest day of the year, yes that is 34 on me dashboard thermostat, and they really could do with a bit of space to sit outside, or even just open the window, so they decided to look up a campsite nearby, and go there instead, spaces available, booked, job done so off they pop to Canterbury, all day parking and return journey for 2 all for £4 , a bargain,
    Canterbury is a mix of very old, old, and quite new buildings with a big shopping arcade full of your normal big names and streets full of quirky old beamed independent shops..
    Obviously, you've got to do the cathedral, quite a bit of money, but worth it. Another building that defies all sense of how it was achieved without today's power tools and mechanical help..
    After a good time spent in the cooler temperature of the cathedral, it was back outside in the blazing heat, well at least for the couple of minutes it took to cross through square to the nearest pub The Buttermarket oldest historic pub in Canterbury but the prices are far from historic! What more could you ask for two pints of Adnams beer, crisps, and Wimbledon on the TV all for £16.00.
    A stroll around the town with a stop in the Primark, for him, not her and it's back to me and on to our overnight stay just outside the town, apparently tomorrow it's going to be cooler, thank the lord for that, me bonse is burning.    Leggi altro

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    111

    Wandering Around Walmer Castle

    2 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Well, we woke up to a real change in the weather,  drizzle,  thick cloud, and a drop in temperature of about 15 degrees.

    Today, we're moving on to Sandwich via Walmer Castle, which is just outside Deal.   A National Heritage site, so it's free entry for the cheapskates, and as a nice surprise,  on Wednesdays old gits get a free cake with a cuppa.  So it's brollies out and straight to the cafe for a gooseberry scone and a piece of carrot cake before they look around. 

    Unlike many English Heritage sites, this castle has dressed rooms as it is a private residence, and because of this, she couldn't take any photos. 

    Since the 18th century, Walmer Castle has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. 

    Notable Lords Wardens include William Pitt the Younger, the Duke of Wellington, W H Smith, and the Queen Mother, and many of the rooms are still decorated as they were when she visited.  It is also where the Duke of Wellington died in 1852, and you can see the chair he was sitting in when he died and his wellies.

    After the walk around the inside, they walked through the gardens,  and they were some of the nicest they have seen and spent quite a while wandering around looking at the unusual plants in the borders. 

    Quick stop at the Sainsbury's in Deal for a restock.  They were tempted by the meal deal in Deal which was ideal at £12 but were dealt a blow when charged more which was not ideal. Delia dealt with the refund so it was a good deal in Deal in the end and they were delighted.

    After this, it's on to our overnight stay at a nursery and farm shop with horses in the paddock opposite outside Sandwich.    Leggi altro

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    111111

    Sandwich Saunter

    3 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    So a saunter into Sandwich is the plan for them today. Not too far for the poor old souls but there is, a bus back up plan. Anyway they make it, and Sandwich is a real joy of a place with churches, mediaeval streets, timbered houses and a river. Was a port back in the, day but like so many places in Kent the river got silted up so ships went elsewhere leaving a legacy of maritime buildings.

    They went into the old Guildhall and an ancient helper lectured them on the history and roman finds in Sandwich for too long really, but hey it was his childhood times. More interesting was the old courtroom pretty much as it was when they hanged pub owners for selling shit beer - more of this later.

    And yes the Earl of Sandwich invented the sandwich when he requested they put his bit of beef between two slices of bread, cos he was late for his tee time at Royal St George's Golf Course (probably). Mart said if it was oss meat between two soft buns it would ave been Muffin the Mule! One for you oldies there.

    So Sandwich is nice they decided over a beer and lemonchello spritz by the river, so more exploring and he decides he wants to climb the church clock tower for a town view as he does, but the church has just closed so it's a no go. Further wandering and the micro pub has just opened so guess what......
    It's the brewery tap of Time and Tide who seem to brew hundreds of beers with saft names, they select a few to taste and they are all thick cloudy fruity hoppy ipas and taste the same.
    Cue a rant from his nibs about this problem, which the barman may or may not have heard. Luckily for him the court is not in session

    Walk back to me in the oss field for a steak N chips night. What a life for them!    Leggi altro

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    1

    Deal them again please

    4 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Another movin day north to Ramsgate, but what's this? He's driving me south to Deal again. ( no more Deal puns, I hope). Anyway, they are going to visit another bleedin castle and park me up in a nice bay in the car park so they can visit said castle and have a few hours around Deal. Fine by me there's, a cute little German VW opposite! So they stroll the prom as old gits do and it's OK, so they come back along the road parallel to the front and spot a plaque on a former church saying that Chief I Spy lived there which he remembers from his youth as the head of I Spy books, now who remembers them? Is anyone reading this stuff?
    Anyway after a pub visit and a stroll up some rather nice shopping streets with independent shops we head north to Ramsgate and our home for four nights on a commercial site which will be a handy place to visit the Thanet towns of Ramsgate Broadstairs and Margate via the Loop Bus, which will be nice for him.    Leggi altro

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    1211

    Loop bus to Ramsgate

    5 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    All aboard the loop bus, which links all three Thanet towns, bus right outside the campsite. Ramsgate has a harbour and sandy beach and is a not bad sort of place. They wander along the prom to visit the Tunnels, basically a railway tunnel with extra interlocking tunnels built for bomb shelter in WW2. Any German bomber planes that were returning back home that still had bombs released them on poor old Ramsgate as they passed over, creating devastation, hence the tunnels.
    Unfortunately for them, all the guided tours are sold out today, but the tunnel museum is splendid and, as a freebee, compensates them for their walk.
    Drinkies next as usual in the biggest Wetherspoons in the UK, the former beach Pavilion, yes, that table number is 426. Top up fruit and veg at a long-established greengrocers and back home on the bus ends their first day out by the sea.    Leggi altro

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    111

    Loop bus to Broadstairs

    6 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Off they goes again on the loop bus to Broadstairs this time. Well it looks alright they reckon, nice beach and victoriana buildings, they potter about, not much open cuz it's Sunday but they find a micro pub as usual and ave a few samples within, called the Old Chapel but there are books everywhere like drinking in a library. After that expensive ice creams at Morellis, a Broadstairs institution, and then they sit round the bandstand where a community rock choir are performing some rock standards, , and very good they are despite a sudden downpour soaking them, they keep on singing bless them. Back home on the bus, not a bad afternoon out really.Leggi altro

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    11

    Loop bus to Margate

    7 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    So loop bus again for the third time this time to Margate.

    Seagull poops on Deb

    Margate is a shit 'ole.

    Caught bus back home.

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    Spitfire and Hurricane Museum

    8 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    It's moving day again, we're off to Herne Bay, but we're going via the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum at Manston Airfield.
    Free entry, that's a bonus and cafe on site for a mid-morning cuppa after we take a look around. They also have a Spitfire and a Lancaster flight simulator, great fun if you ignored the £75 price tag to have a go.
    Some very interesting items and her indoors did manage to get a photo of where the navigator would have sat, not much room in them planes.

    Were off now to Herne Bay for a look round, if we can find somewhere to park.    Leggi altro

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    12

    Herne Bay .

    8 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Well, parking at Herne Bay proved a little difficult, we tried the sea front, then the back roads, and thankfully, we just noticed a spot on the main road where I could park up, being a big lads can be a problem sometimes..~=
    A walk down to the prom where there's a pebbley beach and wooden windbreakers along the beach, but it's a good size. A walk along the pier, full of eateries and little shops, but also the venue for nighttime shows during the summer.
    They walked past the ornate clock tower and the bronze of Amy Johnson, whose plane apparently disappeared off the coast of Herne Bay.
    It's time for drinkies, so it's off the The Ship Inn, the oldest pub in the town for a pint and a bite before heading to our next stop.    Leggi altro

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    Whitstable last fling

    9 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Last day, and they ay had a fish n chips yet by the sea, so off to Whitstable, home of the oyster, to put that right. Yet another bus journey and YES! a double decker turns up for him,... result. Quick look round Whitstable Castle and Gardens, but gardens not great, and castle is not available for tours, so down the hill to the harbour and it's sea food heaven if you like that sort of stuff, and they both don't so onto a pub for a drinkies as it's very warm today. Whitstable is a jewel of a town, with a nice range of shops, along the high street, bit too many dress, shops for his liking so progress, is slow. Decision is made to try the fish n chips at the old Neptune Inn actually on the beach shore and very nice they are too. So bus back to me at the camp site, but a problem - the driver says the road is shut following a car incident on the road leading to the site, so they decide to pop on and go to Herne Bay and maybe a taxi to the site from there. The bus meanders everywhere to avoid the closed road and eventually they are back in Herne Bay. He manages to book an Uber he thinks but just as he confirms his phone battery dies so they are unsure, but 15 mins later taxi turns up and back they come for an evening sit in the sun before tomorrow's drive back home.Leggi altro

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    Home

    10 luglio, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Well, after a good journey back without too many holdups, we made it back home mid afternoon. Thank goodness for air-conditioning. The temperature reached 30 degrees.
    We've all thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Kent,
    Low points, Margate, a shame really because in it's day I'm sure it was a lovely seaside town, and it does have a lovely beach.
    High points, Sandwich, Walmer Castle and Whitstable, this town certainly is the 'pearl' in Kent's crown.
    A great holiday, but it's lovely to be home.    Leggi altro

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    Fine del viaggio
    11 luglio 2025