Are We Not Supposed to See the Sea?

Bandstand - Alexandra Park

We went to Hastings, not like Harold and William in 1066, to have a fight but on a whim to have a wander obeying a  recent urge to "do" the seaside towns.  Having to avoid the M20 crossing at Maidstone we took the long way around to get to Hastings via the M2, Boxley, Wateringbury and the A21.  It was a pleasant drive and we anticipated a walk with the dog Zoid around the seaside town.  We had a bag of cash between us ready to feed the greedy meters and somewhat anticipated breezy ozone, the smell of fish and chips, candy-floss and all the sights of the seaside; we were even prepared for flocks of hungry seagulls.

Well, we got the seagulls and the smell of fish and chips but instead of wandering the seafront and the town we stopped at Alexandra Park on our way in to the seafront.  We found a free parking spot, a bonus, the coins could be spent on coffee instead, and with the dog on the lead we began to explore.

Typical Seaside Houses

Cold for the time of year but mostly sunny with the promise of showers we took to the pathways.  First stop was the toilets and on the way we located the cafe and admired the bandstand, but was most impressive after our call of nature was the walk in the well laid our park with its lakes and well laid out beds, the stream and bridges and having the pleasure of seeing the typical seaside town buildings bordering the park.  The colorful and ornate facades, neat gardens and balconies with the palms and large trees growing give the place an exotic atmosphere that smacks of holidays and days out with the bucket and spade.

Alexandra Park is quite extensive housing two reservoirs, one on the main park area and the other on the southwestern arm with an extension beyond the main reservoir to Old Roar Ghylls, the nature reserve  where ferns and water abound and apart from the occasional reminder from traffic noise that you are in a large town you could imagine yourself in the hills.

Squirrel playing the crowd

Walking was casual and we stopped to watch the birds and animals including cheeky Squirrels cadging for food, seagulls that were content to leave their exits to the last moment.  We noted that the pigeons have it sussed - take food from the fingers and you get more; likewise the Squirrels seemed to pop out of the trees exuding cuteness in the expectation of being given a morsel or two.   Their success rate was extremely high.

There was rain.  We sat at a table outside the cafe eating cheese sticks and macaroons with a cup of coffee each and the dog quietly begging underneath and  for a while it poured.  We had some shelter and a rain coats to put on.   However, we finished coffee, waited for the rain to ease and went back to the car to get a rain cover for Zoid and for sister to put her raincoat on.

Rose Gardens

From there we walked to the rose gardens and the Peace Garden, wandered past the miniature railway noting that it appeared to have a tunnel for the adults to scream in as it passes through.  Beyond that a squirrel popped out out, did its "ain't I cute" act and gained a treat from us.  Wander then around the reservoir, see the swans and in a pond further up see ducklings.  From there the Ghylls begin and this is where the rain made it presence felt having given the woods and banks a freshener there was sunlight and water and sparkling ferns.  The park is integrated into the town and now and then one pops out onto a street and then finds a way back into the woods.

We walked back along the streets to try and get a glimpse of the sea but the park is a little too far back in the town for that so we decided that another trip on another day would be a good idea.  This time we will take the bucket and spade.