LagondaNet

[Keith]

This year's mini meeting for us Brits was organised by Dimitri & Caroline and was based in the Garden of England - Kent.

Our hotel was The Chilston Park Hotel in Lenham. A lovely manor house set in 22 acres of private parkland.
www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/chilstonpark

On the Friday morning we travelled to Dungeness Nuclear Power station for a tour of the plant. The station is sited on the coast in an area that is known as The English Desert. The whole area is a massive, desolate, shingle beach where there are a few ship wrecks, wooden houses and a lighthouse dotted around. It is a very important area for wildlife conservation.

Afterwards we had lunch at a local pub, The Pilot Inn. www.thepilotdungeness.co.uk

Then it was off to Hush Heath Winery for a stroll amongst the vienyards and a lovely woodland area which was carpeted in Bluebells & Wood Anemones that were in full bloom. Of course, after our walk they absolutely insisted that we had a tasting session of virtually all their product range. www.hushheath.com

On Saturday morning, we were off bright and early to travel to the White Cliffs of Dover and after a lovely walk along the cliff top we arrive at the Fan Bay Deep Shelter tunnels. Wearing our very chic hard hats, we descend into the tunnels which were dug out during the 1940's to accommodate some gun batteries and 2 Sound Mirrors. These are huge concrete, vertical "dishes" set into the cliff face that can pick up the sound approaching aircraft way before the aircraft come into view.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-white-cliffs-of-dover/features/visiting-fan-bay-deep-shelter.

Lunch was at The Cliffe pub in St.Margarets. www.thewhitecliffs.com/kitchen/

In the afternoon we then travelled to Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, to the Battle of Britain Memorial Park. The only thing I can say about this place is:
Lest We Forget To Remember The Few.
www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/visit/visit-the-memorial/welcome

The next morning went went to the Oare Gunpowder Works in Faversham where we learnt how gunpowder was made and the history of the area.
www.gunpowderworks.co.uk/gunpowderworks/control/controller.php?id=142

After a quick stop at The Bull in Benedon for some refreshments, www.thebullatbenenden.co.uk we travel onto JoJo's in Whitstable for our final lunch before saying our fond farewells for another year.
www.jojosrestaurant.co.uk

The weather was absolutely unbelievably perfect for the whole weekend which was amazing because both before & afterward's we have had very "worse than usual" English weather.

Thank you to everyone for being great company to be with and a HUGE thank you to Dimitri & Caroline for arranging such a brilliant weekend for us.