Dymchurch

A grand day down at the coast at Dymchurch taking the opportunity to get out before the lockdown begins and travelling outside your locality is restricted to essential journeys only. At least, that’s how we read it - and a drive of 30 miles to the coast might not be considered local or essential.

Before setting off I called in at the allotment to try and rescue the brassica cage. In the end all I could do was make temporary repairs to keep the pigeons off as several poles were snapped or bent.

We then called in at the Library to collect a book I’d reserved. We can’t find out if they’re shut from Thursday and I didn’t think to ask. Susan’s guitar lessons are on the point of restarting and seems like they will be continuing. She doesn’t think she’ll be taking the risk and attending.

It was a brilliant day on the coast, superb sunshine, gentle winds, great visibility and a hard, clear light. We enjoyed a coffee and scone before setting off for Greatstone along the sea wall which is where today’s blip was taken.

The tide was in on the way to Greatstone and had receded when we returned allowing us to walk on the beach where only an hour it had been under water. Plenty of waders around feeding on the newly exposed sands.

The highlight of the day was a pre-lock down fish and chips at The Pilot at Dungeness. The pub was quiet, well organised and we felt confident eating in. As usual, great fish and chips washed down by a flavoursome pint.

We have one more excursion planned for tomorrow, the National Trust’s Emmett’s Gardens near Sevenoaks with a circular walk planned to take us to nearby Chartwell and back. The weather is set to be good again and looks to be drier overall in the coming days.

I wonder if we’ll wake up to knowing the outcome to the US elections by the time we get up tomorrow. Somehow, I think it may be a long wrangle and I’m not confident the electorate will make the decision most of us would want.