England Trip Day Eight–Journal
Good Friday. Thank you, Lord, or the gift of your Son.
Today Judy and Charles came at 10 a.m., and we headed out to Leeds Castle after a breakfast of tea and fish sandwiches. Leeds Castle was crowded because it was a holiday, so we had to queue up to get in. Once you have been to Leeds during a year, you can get in for the rest of the year for free. Many families were there picnicking, etc. There were daffodils and other flowers in abundance. The day was perfect–warm and sunny. Lady Baillie, the last owner of Leeds, loved birds. We saw peacocks, including a white one, and many waterfowl. Black swans were her crest, and there were many there (as well as white). Also geese, duck, birds of prey, and an aviary with birds from all over the world. Th castle is considered by some to be the most beautiful in England. It was a Norman castle and is huge with a moat and a keep. There was also a dog collar museum, a huge yew maze which I wanted Ian to see (we would never have gotten out if a kind lady hadn’t given us signals on how to get to the center) and an underground grotto.
On our way home we stopped at a so-called pub–Crown Point Inn. I guess it was a franchise. KK and I had nachos, a Greek salad, and roasted vegetables (mostly red onion) with hummus. I almost had a chandy (lager with lemonade) which they say is good, but I thought better of it. Someday I’ll try one. It was a nice sunset drive back, and we were so thanful for Judy and Charles’s taxi service. We watched a show about buying houses in England and Spain and then went to Stables (the restaurant in our hotel) for dessert. I had a latte, and KK and I shared some kind of delicious chocolate gooey think baked in a teacup. Jerome had a cheese tray, and Janet had bread pudding. Everything was delicious. We came back and watched LAW AND ORDER CRIMINAL INTENT while we reorganized and packed. Tomorrow–time to fly out of England. I’d love to have another week!