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.

Walking in Wet Wingham

Wingham, a historic town between Canterbury and Sandwich which we discovered goes way back to Roman and Saxon times. The Dog Inn has been there for a long time in some form or another and the Red Lion appears to be a well established tavern. We also learned from a local resident that the Anchor was newly opened and likely to serve lunches in the future. However, we had a sandwich in the Red Lion and enjoyed reading the historical bits plus the friendly service. It is the season for pub walks and pubs as anchors for our traipsing around.




As usual at this time of the year - October - the trees are shedding their leaves and the colors are magnificent as many Kent towns and villages will be at this time of the year.



We walked the town and was pleased to note that the shops were entering into the spirit of the season, Halloween, and had displays in their windows. We were impressed with the fierce pumkin displayed in the local dentists window. We were also impressed by the display in the local bakery - yes bakery with home-made pies, cakes, bread and buns. In fact Wingham seemed to be modestly serviced by shops that aimed to please.


The place seemed to impose itself upon us and we were apprached by locals who volunteered snippets of information about themselves and the town. The fact that there was a fairground nearby which is fiercely defended by locals and the hunt that comes to Winham - agree or not the hunt is a pretty sight even if the fox would disagree.











The major problem is that the road is busy with cars and trucks which takes the edge of the experience - some drivers refusing to obey the rules of the road and insist on speeding through the town.


We chose to go there for two reasons.





One reason was that we have passed through the place a number of times and ignored it and the other was that as it was raining we thought that there would be places to shelter (a pub) and we were right. This is a good place to visit and we also learned that there are some walks around the area connected to the coal miners and again we saw how connected with Sandwich and the early settlers that Wingham itself is.



We looked at the church and met up with the driver of a vintage Rolls Royce employed to convey the bride and groom from the church to their reception. (She was beautiful - oh, the car and the Bride!) We had a chat with the driver who told us about the car's history and his business and we saw how happy the young woman looked when she and her newly wedded husband took their seats in the immaculate car.



We were impressed by the gentleman with the Rolls Royce and his attitude toward his clients. Rosie the 1933 Roller was immaculate and so with no embarrassment we would reccomend Vintage Vows for a wedding car and blatantly suggest you call them on 01227 794706 or 07734934209 - this is a luxury not to be missed by a man who has the day of the bride in mind.









However, there are some pleasant spots and here and there we wandered into places that were so quiet that the traffic passing through seemed to disappear and we saw what many small towns and villages in Kent seem to offer - surprising little treats of ancient buildings and even more impressively ancient trees. Wingham has a lot to offer in history and in beauty.



I think the idea that you there for the bird and wild life park is only part of the story. Wingham goes back to Roman times and I would say that with the river there and the arable land there must have been an earlier settlement well before even the Romans arrived to plant there villas. There is in fact a villa there (site of) but given the time we did not have the chance to find it.