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This Has to Stop.This Has to Stop.
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This Has to Stop.

August - September 2018
The is absolutely, positively, most likely the last time we do this. Read more
  • 126footprints
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  • 59days
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  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 14

    Blinkling House

    August 14, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Anne Boleyn could have been born here. It's that sort of story. The original house did belong to her family.

    A very, very rich lawyer Henry Hobart bought it, tore it done and built himself a Jacobean country house.

    It’s had a few owners before ending up with the National Trust in 1940, opened to visitors in 1960.

    It was leased to someone during that period. What sort of person leases an enormous, old, old house with a garden that needs a morning to see.

    Would you like to see the attics they asked, what could you say but yes. Mark’s Fitbit says that we climbed the equivalent of 19 stories but who counts these things. Great house with the biggest Library eat of the Pennines.

    They were having an art installation around the risk to books in the 21 century, quite interesting in parts. Better than the “Surrealism Experience” at Peckover House we did not discuss with you.

    Many K’s walk, much gawking and good time had by all.

    Bernadette had a wasp incident in the courtyard but a true tourist takes these things in their stride.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    1
    Day 14

    The Green Dragon

    August 14, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Where do you find a Green Dragon.
    Right next door from where you are staying!
    It’s been a pub since 1376 near the gates of the Wymondham Abbey. It is an absolutely old English pub.
    No straight lines, old wood, lead light, bar the size of a cupboard.
    Bern has gone to Heaven again.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 15

    The Number 13 Bus or the No 6

    August 15, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Decided th have a day off driving and spend 2 nights in one place.
    The accommodation is very good but is done in early bordello style. Or maybe that’s just a description of how untidy we are.
    It has a kitchenette so we could do some in house eating.
    That worked, pub first night and probably Italian the second.
    Having a day in Norwich with the Cathedral and Castle.
    We were to get the No 13 bus on advice of the locals.
    They had moved the stop due to road works and there was some discussion as to where the new one was.
    Amazingly we found it and although we ended up on the No 6 we got to Norwich easily.
    It’s now obvious how they trim the overhanging trees.
    They run double deckers up and down the roads.
    Norwich bus station the size of Strathfield station. Very slick.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 15

    Norwich Town and Castle

    August 15, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    In to town to Norwich Bus Station, a place of wonder where a never ending stream of buses disgorge and vacuum up most of north east England.

    Norwich is a big place about 45,000 and appears to have traffic to match. All works in an English sort of way. Sydney road rage would bring the place to a standstill.

    Normans built the castle sometime before 1075 to let the Saxons know who had won.
    Castle was built on a huge motte with 2 additional ones on front. One is now a shopping centre (what a comedown).

    Present castle is a very recent addition, only been there since 1045.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 16

    A Trip around the Truck Parking Lot

    August 16, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    We decided to drive down to Kent to start phase 2 of the trip, “THE SOUTH”.

    Only 130 miles, lots of M road (freeways with roundabouts the size of Earlwood), cross the Thames to the east of London, should take 2 and a bit hours.

    Plenty of time to see a manor house in the afternoon.

    Well that was an idea.

    A 3 hour white knuckle drive in torrential rain, no visability except when the trucks overtook and wiped the road of water, queues, delays and many White Vans.

    If you have never been to the UK you need to understand that thousands of White Vans traverse the country on all manner of roads.

    They unfailing drive to fast, pass on blind corners and are driven by excitable P platers.

    Then there was the “if we dont stop to go to the toilet I’m going to explode” incident. This required coming of the M, negotiating a 6 exit roundabout and finding a Services Area as big as Roselands.
    With an unfailing sense of direction Mark ended up in the truck parking area, then the coach parking area, then just any area.

    It would not be accurate to saty that no “words” were exchanged during and after all these travails.
    There was a full debriefing of fails, missed turns, alternative choices and “how could you miss that”.

    Kidney failure was avoided, caffeine levels were restored, the downpour continued and eventually all thought of seeing anything in the rain was abandoned. Luckily the veryy nicepeople at The Bull at Wrotham were able to let the room early.

    The Bull has no straight walls, the doors don’t fit and its been a pub for 600 years. There have been a couple of renovations during that period.

    It’s got a Michelin Rosette for its pub food and as soon as we find out what that means you’ll know as well.

    But it’s dry in side and it’s not moving.

    Mark has refused to drive 4mins for coffee and had opted for beer instead.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 16

    Norwich Town and Castle

    August 16, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Bus from Wymondham to the mighty Norwich bus station. Lots of buses from surrounds and buses to London and airports. Not like Eddy Avenue at all. It works.

    Norwich is quite a big place 45,000 or so and for those with long memories was home to the Norwich Union Insurance.now all part of the delightfully named Aviva. Much clearer what they do.

    The markets have been trading in the one spot for 600 years and although some of the stock looks the same age it’s an interesting part of town.

    Castle dominates the town. That was the purpose i suppose and it worked.
    Built by Normans not long after the conquest it is now a huge square building (not the original, this one only dates fro the 11th century).

    The Saxons got the message: You lost.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 16

    Wrotham Village

    August 16, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    As we’d driven most of the day and sat around the res Bernadette had not walked her 8 kilometres so off went to explore.
    Interesting place, about 2,500 people, 3 pubs, hairdresser and small shop.
    Mixed housing, tiny terraces and big I’ve got money places.
    Excellent church and not one but two cemeteries.

    Only got to 4.67 when good sense prevailed and it was back to lay down.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    3
    Day 17

    Knole

    August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    You drive through a very busy market town. Narrow streets, suicidal pedestrians with phones till you see a very narrow gate down a lane that isn’t opened yet.
    You drive past three times because there is no where to park until the carpark open the gate.
    Then you drive the kilometre to the house. The deer park is at the back of the high street and most of the town. A thousand acres.
    Amazing.
    The house started life as a palace for the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1496, past through a number of hands until it ended up with Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop and Henry XIII supporter.
    Henry collected property like he did wives and suggested he might pass the property to the Crown.
    It’s good to be King.
    Elizabeth I gave it to Lord Dudley, a favourite,who gave it back, her cousin Thomas Sackville ended up with it and there it stayed, Vita Sackville-West is part of the family but that’s a complete story on its own.
    The House is huge, over 3 acres, has 7 courtyards 52 staircases and 365 rooms.
    What a a place, one off the biggest houses in Britain.
    Doing the gutters takes a while.    Read more

  • TravelerThis Has to Stop.
    Day 17

    Ightham Mote

    August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Was worth the effort.
    Left Knole full of confidence in Karen the GPS. Our next stop was only 5 miles away. A quick trip and a look at a 14th century moated house.
    Alas, there was a road diversion and complete confusion ensured.
    Having been taken through a housing estate so we could turn around and a dead end with a sigh saying “Your GPS is wrong “ we did finally arrive. Both Karen and Bernadette were a little unhappy at various parts of the trip.

    The house itself sits at a bottom of a valley and was started and extended and renovated and fixed up many times. We counted at least 4 staircases, has its own Chapel (as you do) and some walls that look like a TOMB job.
    Men were boating around the moat fixing the stone work some of which don’t have mortar.
    Obviously an age of optimism.    Read more

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