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THE LONG DRIVE SOUTH - July 8, 2006

Leaving Anglia for England’s southeast….we visited the site of very early evidence of Christianity in the UK, saw flowers everywhere, a magnificent cathedral,  a couple more castles, and finally a “dry” ski slope!

SORRY—no photos here…I forgot to “shrink” them in the camera before downloading to the computer (and deleting from the camera), so I can’t upload because the files are too big. 
(Yes, I know there is probably a way to do it in the computer, but I’m ‘way too ignorant at this point to even attempt it.  Later…...

July 8, 2006

Probably the longest day’s drive so far, but still not a big deal by California (or Tennessee) standards.  We left Blaxhall around 10:00 after sleeping until 8:00.  Drove steadily south until we were across the Thames.  Then spent an hour or so at a “Roman villa” from the second to fourth centuries A.D.  There is pretty clear evidence that the inhabitants became Christian – the earliest evidence in England, I believe.  A fabulous mosaic was preserved, plus the remains of a really nice house.  From there, it must have taken fifteen minutes of driving around with disappearing signs and non-existent directions to find Eynsford castle, or what remains of it.  However, we DID discover a wonderful old mill (private, no admittance) and the most bountiful flower display on one house that we’ve seen so far…..  Also got photos of a field of red flowers we’d been seeing off and on as we drove around.  The castle was hardly there anymore….a bit disappointing.

We also stopped at Rochester and saw the cathedral and the gigantic and luxurious keep across the street.  The floors are all gone, and the basement was excavated down 10-15 feet, but the walls, galleries, etc. are in quite good repair.  The surrounding wall is in poorer repair, although two towers remain and have roofs so they can be used – at one broken end, the Victorians began a terrace of houses, and saved the money that would have been used on that wall…..  It was all extremely impressive.

Last stop was Upnor Castle – one of the few we’ve seen to fire shots in anger.  The Dutch attacked up the river, and sank, burned or captured five or six British ships in one day – during the time they were negotiating an end to hostilities!  They retreated with the tide, and next day returned, intending to move upriver to the shipyards and do more damage.  Upnor Castle, and a battery or two on the other bank drove them off – along with fire ships and some sunken hulks to block passage upriver.  A year or so later, the Castle became a gunpowder storage spot – a magazine, in the vernacular.  That lasted a hundred years or so….long enough for a nice barracks to be built in 1729, but finally other buildings were put to use and Upnor was abandoned. 

Heading for Capstone, where the youth hostel is, we got lost again….we’re used to it, now;.  We found the “dry ski slope”, which is being recovered with a new material.  The guy who makes the covering also owns this slope and four or five others in England.  In addition, other companies have their own slopes – it’s kind of like AstroTurf, only the plastic is in loops – pretty stiff, but the attendant said most folks use regular clothes, but you must have knee and elbow pads, plus gloves.  There were two poma lifts, and you pay for 90 minutes of skiing, equipment included.  It was 30 or 40 dollars, if I remember right.  We found the hostel, went out and bought more curry, cooked dinner and are now ready for bed.  Long day.

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