Rando Rail, France

Wednesday morning seemed less wet and miserable than the previous day which was a relief.

We enjoyed our breakfast at the Beefeater and loaded up the car to get on our way.

We boarded the ferry fairly quickly and went to find ourselves a base in the family lounge area at the front of the boat. 

We had a huge window to look out and it was lovely to sit and relax with a book while the boys played together in the play area.

The crossing was fairly quick, only an hour and a half to Calais so we were soon disembarking and driving towards Nielles-les-Blequin where David had booked for us to go Rando-Railing.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch while waiting for our booked slot.  The Rando rail is basically a 5km course of disused railway on which you pedal a four-seater bike chair contraption. 

Unfortunately we could only book the downhill first start which meant we had a wonderful long and fast ride down ride in slight drizzle and then after turning the bike on the turntable we had a long uphill climb back to the start in much heavier rain. 

We had to stop several times to cross roads and lift barriers but it was a lovely and unique way to spend a couple of hours riding through the French countryside.

Seb, David and I alternated so that there were always two of us pedalling while Nat cuddled up to the other person on the seat in the middle and sheltered under the protection of the umbrella (now somewhat bent after my dive into the maze hedge the previous day).

Again it probably would have been even more lovely had it been a warm and sunny day but we still had great fun and really enjoyed ourselves.

On the way back to the ferry we had planned to stop at some lakes to do a little boating but because of the rain the boats and rides were all closed.  we had a quick walk around some of the lakes and then jumped back in the car to head back to Calais.

In fact it was a good job that everything had been closed as there was a diversion on the way back and a lot of traffic so we only made it back onto the ferry by the skin of our teeth.

We found ourselves a nice comfy sofa in the family lounge and Nat and Sebastian watched Ice Age 4 on the big screen while David stretched out for a little snooze and I read another book.

We docked back in England about 7.45pm and stopped for chips from a fish and chip shop in Dover before commencing the two hour drive back home.  A long and tiring day but good fun.  Lots of sorting out to do now though.

Leeds Castle

Oh dear so the good weather was short-lived and we are back to the typical British summer time - rain, rain and more rain.

Tuesday saw torrential down pours so it was a good job we hadn't decided to do anything stupid like go for a nice day out . .   MMMM

Well a little bit of rain was not going to spoil our fun.  We loaded up the car and drove to Leeds Castle in Kent. As it is half term David and I have both taken the week off work to spend some quality time with the kids.

Also as it is half term, Leeds Castle are putting on medieval jousting tournaments in the Castle grounds and we thought the children would enjoy watching knights on horses sword fighting and jousting.

The good news is that on rainy days kids go free.  We didn't have to pay for Nat anyway as he is under 4 and Seb was free with a full paying adult.  The even better news is that our tickets last for a whole year so we can go back again - preferably on a sunny day!

The grounds were beautiful and it was a shame it was not a wonderful sunny day to see them at their best but the castle and lakes were stunning anyway.

We arrived half an hour before the first jousting match was due to begin and found ourselves a bench to sit on while we waited and ate our picnic.

The actors soon came out in their costumes and the show was hosted by a very amusing King Henry VIII and the spectators were split into red and blue supporters (we were for the red team)

The jousting was brilliant and Nathaniel was shrieking with laughter as the knights on their horses jousted, battled with swords and played spike the head with polystyrene heads painted to look like human heads.

The rain was really chucking it down by the time the jousting was over so we ducked into the craft tent to let the kids do some craft and colouring until the worst of the rain had past.  Sebastian made a knight's helmet for Nat.  Nat coloured in several pictures and even David surprised me by picking up some felt tips and joining in the fun.  It wasn't in the slightest bit embarrassing when he later asked the cashier if she would like to display his art work!!

The rain eased slightly so we made a dash across the moat to tour the castle which was very interesting.  Nathaniel was particularly interested in the bedroom with a massive four poster bed and a day bed near an open fire.  Unfortunately the camera batteries were playing up so no photos!

After the castle we headed for the restaurant where we warmed ourselves over mugs of delicious hot chocolate before trekking over to the castle maze.

Unfortunately due to the heavy rain many of the maze paths were nearly impassable because of huge big puddles.  Nat was fine because we had had the foresight to pack his wellys but the rest of us had to try and straddle the puddles or squeeze around the edge.

I was gingerly making my way around the edge of one particularly large puddle while David was filming with his video camera.  Unfortunately my trainer got caught in the hedge and I suddenly took a nose dive forward, slammed my face into the hedge opposite, twisted around and landed heavily in the puddle getting a soaking wet and muddy backside and right leg and splashing muddy water in my face.

It was quite amusing if a little embarrassing as several witnesses unfortunately saw my nose-dive.

I then had to walk around the rest of the day with really muddy and wet jeans - brilliant!

Anyway we then headed over to the play park where we all had fun on the play equipment then we had a snack near the ducks and swans.  Apparently Lady Baillie, the last owner of Leeds Castle was responsible for introducing the black swan to England and it is therefore the emblem of the castle.  Anyway, Seb panicked a bit when a hungry swan took too keen an interest in his sandwich and we had to run away. 

We then caught a boat across the river and a train back to the car park.

We had decided as we were so near to Dover to stay overnight in a premier lodge and to catch the ferry to Calais the next morning.

We therefore drove to the premier lodge where I tried to sponge my jeans as clean as possible then I left them to dry on the towel rail while we went to the nearest Brewers Fayre for dinner then back to the lodge for an early night.

Off-road Biking at Deers Leap Park

Bank Holiday Monday was another glorious day so we got up early and loaded the bikes onto the back of the car, packed up another picnic and headed off to Deer's Leap Park near Turners Hill.

We had a small crisis when one of the bikes slid off the bike rack while in transit but fortunately it remained held in place by a couple of bungees until we could pull over to adjust the bikes.

I had called on Saturday to reserve the child buggy that attaches to the back of a bike as child seats are not allowed in the mountain bike park.  However, unfortunately the young lad I had spoken to had failed to put the booking in the diary so when we arrived (after our unscheduled pit stop) it had already been hired out to someone else.  The guy in charge was very lovely though and lent us a mountain bike with a child bike attached to the back for free.

The child bike was too big for Nat but he could balance on the saddle and hold on for dear life.  He wasn't too happy at first and was very nervous but with a few distractions we kept him going long enough until he relaxed into it.

It was perfect weather for cycling, sunny and warm but not too stifling to be uncomfortable which is just as well as there were several steep climbs to navigate, that and a very rough terrain to deal with.

It was lovely to be out in the fields and the woods with the birds tweeting and the butterflies, flowers and fluffy white clouds in the blue sky.

We stopped for lunch at a spot in a lovely glade with a picnic table and while we were eating received a call to say the buggy was back.

 

 

 

We headed back to the bike hire shop and David transferred the buggy onto the bike he had borrowed before we set off again.

 

 

Note to self.  Keep mouth firmly closed on fast downhill sections (I got a rather nasty black fly stuck at the back of my throat and had to stop to choke non too elegantly into the bushes)

It was my idea to go cycling - not really sure what came over me as I must be the worlds most unfit woman at the moment and boy can I feel my muscles aching now!

It was a great afternoon out though.  Not only do my legs and backside ache but my arms do too from lifting the heavy bikes on and off the cycle carrier!

Back home for some dinner, a relaxing bath then I was out for my book group meeting.

This is turning into quite a hectic week.

Boating in Arundel

Sunday was another lovely day where we made the most of an unexpectedly free afternoon.

Usually after Church on Sunday Sebastian has a Maths and English Tutor come to give him a lesson. As it happens his tutor has got a very nasty back injury and so his lesson this week was cancelled at late notice.

It was a beautiful and sunny day so we took a spur of the moment decision to throw a picnic together and to jump in the car and drive down to Arundel for the afternoon.

 

We timed it quite well as we arrived at the Boating hut just behind a group of six women and we didn't have too long to wait before one of the motorised four-men boats became free.

We donned the obligatory life jackets and clambered into the boat.

There is nothing more lovely than pootling down the river in Arundel on a beautifully sunny day.

 

You motor past the castle several times as the river bends around it.

It was great fun although Sebastian was very nervous when he took over the steering and there were quite a few wobbles, near misses and lots of screams.

We went quite a way past the Black Rabbit pub as we were making good time and believed the tide would be with us on the way back so it wouldn't take so long on the return journey.

As it happens the tide was turning as we headed back and the wind suddenly picked up a little so the ride back (while I was in control) was considerably choppy and there was quite a spray coming off the river but it was lovely and refreshing in the hot sunshine.

We had a wonderful time but I was relieved to get us all back on dry land - safe and sound, as Nathaniel did like to lurch from one side of the boat to the other with one of us diving to hold onto his straps.

On the way home we stopped off for the boys to do a bit of rock climbing.

 

 

Then back home where David cooked his speciality sausage risotto - yummy!

Beech Hurst Park and Minature Railway

Saturday afternoon David and I took the boys to Beech Hurst park.

After several days and weeks of rain and cold gusty winds it was nice to have a spot of sunshine again.  Within 24 hours the temperature had increased from 8 degrees to 20.

The park looked lovely with all the trees and flowers in bloom.  Nathaniel had fun playing in the play area.

 

 

 

 

When Nat realised there was a miniature railway in the park he was beside himself with excitement!

 

 
 

 

We had a couple of rides on the trains - it is quite a long track with two tunnels, one of which was quite long and dark which Nathaniel particularly liked.

 

 

 

 

A very relaxing way to while away an unexpectedly pleasant Saturday afternoon.