Minibus Excursion, 21 Jul 2014

We were up and off on an excursion at 9 a.m.  There were more to go than seats in the minibus, so two cars went with four in each.  Dad and I rode with Brother & Sister Curley, the outing planners.  They are English through and through and are very well aware of English life, travel, and how to speak the Queen's English!   Therefore, we were the lead car.

Mulberry Restaurant

Sister Curley and I were in the back seat while Dad and Brother Curley were in the front.  Sister Curley had map in hand and could read it like any good book.  She doesn't believe in  sat navs and did the navigating as he drove.   There were times a wrong turn was made or a road was missed and she simply looked for the next alternative route and picked up where to go next.  As Dad says:  "You can't get there from here."  There are more twists and turns; round abouts and roads going off in every direction than you can shake a stick at!

The trip was very delightful as we sped around curves and corners of the most beautiful countryside roads in England.  We drove through tree tunneled lanes, one after another; dark as we entered, and some with high banks on either side.  It was as if the road had been scooped out of the dirt.  Sister Curley assured us it was not, but that the dirt banks had built up over hundreds of years of time.  One such tunnel was walled with thick tree trunks and roots.  It was as if they could have been large boulders, they were so closely fitted together.

On occasion the hedges along the road would thin out enough for us to look out over the rolling hills and valleys of farmland.  They grow mainly hops, wheat, and other grains.  We saw fields of sheep, cows, and some horses.  The homes were amazing as they ranged from very old to new and from very small to large.  Many of them had flower gardens growing at the entrance into their property or up next to the building.  They were in many different colors and sizes.  And, we saw many red telephone booths along the way!  I think they still work as there were phones in them.

We drove through towns with buildings and homes up and down each side of the road; the front doors so close, we could have stepped out of the car and knocked.  Some roads were very very narrow and Brother Curley pulled over and stopped more than once when meeting on-coming traffic for them to safely pass.  They would slowed down until they moved on.  We in turn would reverse the order on occasion.

Our first stop was Bodiam Castle.  It sits in the heart of the High Weald and was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III.  It was a working estate with farmland, wharf and flour mill.  It was built on the river Rother that Sir Dalyngrigge diverted to create the moat.  It is the typical medical castle, built in a square with round towers on each corner and a gatehouse in the center of one wall.

It has a moat all the way around it, but no drawbridge.

Dad at the gate.

As I took pictures, I thought of all the adventures  that may have occurred on these grounds!

We walked up the 60 steps of the northwest tower.  Along the way we looked out through the windows.  The steps were very steep and the top half were very thick and narrow.


The view was fantastic out across the countryside.  The northeast tower shows what it looks like where we were standing on the northwest tower.

There are crops of hops behind the information center.  Note the buildings with a cone shaped top; they are an oast house, a hop kiln, used for drying hops as part of the brewing process.

The inside of the castle is all ruins, as you can see.  Notice the local castle help; they explained some of the medical ailments of the time and what herbs and procedures were used to treat them.

Dad at the castle gate.  Ducks and fish in the moat.

Our travels took us into the county of Kent.  We learned that it is famous for its cherries.  As Sister Curley says:  "You haven't eaten cherries until you eat cherries from Kent!"  We saw them for sale all along the road.  She promised we would stop on the way home.  We scored better than that - there was a cherry stand at the car park at the castle.  We paid £6 for 2 kilos.  And, yes, they were delicious.  Dad and I ate them before we finished at the castle and bought another carton when we left.  

We next headed to Bateman's.

Bateman's is the home of Rudyard Kipling.  It is a 17th century house built of sandstone.  It sits on 300 acres of rolling countryside.  We did not make it all the way around, across, or over, but we did have a most delicious lunch at the Mulberry Restaurant.  I had a goat cheese and spinach tart and Dad had a sausage and apple pie.  Each was complimented with a fresh garden salad.  We sat outside and enjoyed the beauty of the day.

What is unique about the restaurant is they grow their own vegetables and herbs.  Can you see the onions in the bottom photo?  We watched them gather vegetables as they prepared dishes.


It was a fantastic tour in the home and getting a feel for what life was at the turn of the 20th century.  There are many rooms and each one is filled with furniture and personal effects of the Kipling family.

A look at his study where he did his writing.  The bookcase is on the opposite wall of the table with the typewriter.

 Notice the carpeting covering the stairs.  Dad is in one of the maze paths on the grounds.

There were many paths to follow and each led to more area to explore.

The top photo is the mill.  They still mill their own flour for all the baking and cooking.  The stones to grind the wheat are very large.  It is water-powered from the pond out back and on Wednesdays and Saturdays they have volunteer millers who come in and do the process.  The two other photos are buildings next to the mill.

Another oast house.  This one has been converted into a gift shop with amazing items to purchase that represent Kipling's life and his property.  The path leads to the mill.  Vegetation and blooms are everywhere and beautiful to see.

Dad wore out with walking and picture taking.  Doing what he does best - sitting!

Chickens roaming freely, how many can you see?

The missionaries taking a break.  Some were more tired than others.  Sister Hale is really taking it easy.  Brother Davis is wishing he had thought of it first and Sister Adler is busy talking.

What more can we say; it was an absolutely fabulous day!