Kent Motor Caravanners Rally - Sissinghurst

Most rallies run from Thursday evening until afternoon on Sundays. We tend to only do the Friday to Sunday though.  I have greyhound rescue on Thursday mornings.

We also only really have enough solar power for three days!  The Bluetti AC70 did okay this weekend boiling the kettle, running the toaster and the Tassimo coffee machine. But used 85% of the battery.  

So....

We arrived about 1.20pm on Friday after a longer way around due to road closures on the M20 due to an accident. In the end it wasn't that bad across country to Tenterden and then our "usual" way through London Beech and Biddenden.

There were already a lot of vans on the edge of the field furthest away from the cricket pavilion and clubhouse.  We ended up at the end of the line furthest away from the entrance and the road. At all the events the club sticks to the 6m rule; a 6m gap between vans and any awnings.  It's fire safety.  There was a marker on the ground the last van in the line had a friend coming and they would slot in. In the end I think we were far further away than expected!  It meant we could have our awning out.  

Being a German van, or European I suppose, the habitation door is on the right side. UK vans have their doors on the left! So we tend to try and park so that our awning and chairs aren't staring right at the neighbours.

We set up and it was nice and sunny.  Awning out.  Mat out. Chairs out. Flexishades out too, to create shade from the sun.

It's okay, it's a spirit level in my hand!!!

Later on we had a walk into Sissinghurst Village to check out the fish and chip shop.  We take food with us in the fridge and often choose to eat out.  The plan was to go to the clubhouse around 7pm and socialise. So we booked F&C for 6.30pm, and walked back, via the shop for an ice-cream. 

The afternoon was spent loafing about reading etc and then walking to the shop for the F&C.  Claire took a photo as we entered the village.  I guess it will need a Google search to find out why there is a penny farthing....

By the time we had finished eating and were too pogged to move, so  e didn't bother with the club house.  

It started to rain and it was on and off all evening, sometimes very hard, and so we stayed in and watch YouTube!

Saturday.

We didn't have a plan. Initially we thought that we'd walk into Sissinghurst and up to the Castle.  In the end we did neither.  The weather wasn't the best and for a while we watched the cricket. It seems they were playing a 20 over game and the first to bat were 92-8 in their 20 overs.  The other team, we had no idea who was who, won with 95-6 in 15.5 overs.  

We had a few snacks and some toast but were a bit too full to eat dinner. It was raining!  We had put the awning away as the wind caught it and it lifted up one leg and pulled the peg out.  We quickly stripped the Flexishades and the tie downs out and packed it all away. Then the wind dropped and the sun came out!

We left the chairs and the mat out so that when it rained everything got wet. We folded them up and stowed them under the van. It continued to rain all evening and so we knocked the idea of a walk across to the club house on the head and stayed in watching the TV on the Amazon Firestick.

Sunday.

Awoke to tepid sunshine and the Silver Screen soaking wet.  Reggie had his usual three trips out and then we had our breakfast. I got the mats and the chairs out again and facing the sun.  In an hour they were all dry.

Just in time for the coffee meet at the "flag" at 10am.  It's a little get together and we have a chat and if you haven't paid in advance the treasurer collects the money.  This time £15 per unit per night.

Then we packed up, Our destination was to Sissinghurst Castle Garden just up the road. Where we though about walking to on Saturday, but it was unclear if there was an off road walk across country.

Easier to drive. When we arrived and checked in there was one other van there. An Italian registered campervan.  We turned off the road ahead of a Hymer 4x4 coming the other way and they followed us along the access road. At least the motorhome and coach parking was full of cars as usual! Thanks to the lady volunteers working the entrance.

We parked up, got Reggie ready and walked down as far as the garden shop that also double for a tea room. A coffee each and a summer fruits flapjack between us.  Not due to the expense but to save the calories!! Reggie was happy with his treats.

We had a walk around the outside of the Castle grounds. We had checked in as we are National Trust members, but we didn't go in the gardens as Reggie isn't allowed in. 

Where there used to be some old garages, these have been removed and the "Delos Garden" has been extended.  I forgot my phone in the van so any photos here are taken by Claire.

The Delos Garden Extension.

By the time we got around the moat, which runs around to sides of the gardens, Reggie had had enough. He's met a few other dogs and all had been very amicable! We headed back and into the shop.  Dogs are allowed in there and Reggie gracefully accepted some treats from one of the ladies working in there. Claire bought a few things as presents.

Then it was home. The signed road closed all weekend on the A28 towards High Halden didn't materialise apart from temporary traffic lights by the shop/post office. After a few minutes on red the went green and almost back to red in the blink of an eye! 

As we are away again next weekend I decided to see what the deal was with the diesel price at Tesco by the M20. Once again those of us around Folkestone and Hythe are getting screwed over as a mere two junctions further along the M20 Tesco sell for 144.9 a litre. Ashford? "Only"  140.9 a litre. I filled up here.

At home we unloaded the stuff we don't need in the van, foodstuffs etc.  I had emptied the black waste cassette at the Elsan point before we left the cricket ground. Plus we had drained the grey water into the grass.  Grey water is what's been used for washing dishes and us!

So that's it for another weekend.