Sissinghurst

Thursday 8th September

We had quite heavy rain showers overnight but The Hawkenbury was a great place to spend the night after a very tasty meal in the pub.

It was a little drier by morning but that didn't last, more showers came regularly.

We set off for Sissinghurst Castle Gardens and the sun came out and that was very welcome.

We decided to do the woodland lake walk around the estate first as Louis isn't allowed in the formal gardens so we'll look at those later. 

It was bright sunshine initially but then, predictably we had another rain shower.

After drying off from the woodland walk the heavens opened, again, and more or less constant rain set in. 

So very disappointed, we accepted we weren't going to get to see the formal gardens as we couldn't see the point of walking around in the rain.

Give that, we set off towards the channel tunnel with a visit to Tesco en route to get a few forgotten items.

Thankfully Louis pet passport I got in Republic of Ireland last year was accepted without question which was a great relief.

They also fitted us on an earlier crossing which was welcome.

Thirty five minutes later we were in France and on the way to our free parkup at Gravelines.

I've not been here before but it's a good place to spend the night. It's actually next to a large man made rowing lake but that couldn't be seen from the Aire due to a large embankment, I'd planned to climb up it but not in the rain.

I put the tv on were saddened to hear the news from Balmoral of HM Queen Elizabeth ll  - RIP HM

It's also still raining, persistently :(

The evening was spent hearing the touching tributes paid to HM

Sissinghurst Oast House

Sissinghurst views