Wednesday: We were sorry to leave Singapore , we really enjoyed the ease of getting around, the food ($3.50 each for a good noodle with pork from a local hawker market) was really good and the hotel staff were very helpful. We’ll book the same hotel for the stopover on the way home. The flight from Singapore to London was long, but mostly very smooth and clear.FWortunately, the memory of the long flight fades quickly. Window seat was great. Looking down over the Middle East was fascinating. So apparently dry, with beautiful sand patterns, not sure whether they were from wind or water. Lots of very sharp, creased mountains, again looking very dry and inhospitable, but beautiful. Then there were snow capped mountains, didn’t even consider snow in the Middle East.
Had an incredibly fast (especially compared to the last UK trip) pass through immigration and customs and then rang the car people to be picked up. Back to the car depot, signed some papers, worked out where the steering wheel was (small almost round thing in front of the seat on the other side), set the GPS and headed off to Thatchers Hotel in East Horsley, about 1/2 hour from Heathrow. Missed one turn and saw extra country side. We were just a little tired when we got there, so a drink in the bar and bed by 10, local time but 5am Singapore time. Didn’t sleep well, so hoping for a good sleep tonight. Great little car the Peugeot 208. Luggage fits perfectly in the back, out of sight.
Good breakfast and planning for the day, no rush. First stop was the River Wey Navigation, operated and maintained solely by the National Trust. Went on a very peaceful 45 min boat ride on a 12 seater electric boat, very quiet. The system was built in 1653, extended in 1764, went into decline and became operational again. It is the most southerly section of canal that is connected to the main canal system to the north. Today”s quote would have to be: “If your dog fouls, please bag it up and take it away” What do you do with the poo?
We headed off to an old mill, couldn’t find it and found out that it was not open today. We then couldn’t find another section of canal that is in the process of being rejuvenated and went to look at Chiddingstone Village, a very small village with some very attractive old buildings.
Old Soar Manor was the next stop. Dating from 1290, there is not a lot left of this medieval Knight’s house, but we were able to see the undercroft and the Solar (living room with lots of light). The solar had a spectacular crown-post-collar-purlin roof, one of the oldest to survive in England.
By now, it was time to head to the, dare we admit it, Travelodge in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Checked in and visited Sainsburys for supplies. We decided to “eat in simply” tonight after all our eating in Singapore, on the plane and breakfast this morning.
Dover tomorrow night and the next, with Di, Barry, Mary & John. Lots to see between Tunbridge Wells and Dover.
Pre dinner wine finished, blog finished, so time to have something to eat and??
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