Today was a laid back day. We requested a "full English breakfast" this morning which includes egg, sausage, ham, mushrooms, tomato, toast, muesli, coffee, and orange juice.
We left the B&B about 9:30. We stopped at a service exit to fill the car with "petrol". First of all, the service exits off the motorways are only for getting gas, using restrooms and getting fast food or coffee. Then you get back on the motorway - there's no where else to go at these service exits - it's just a big circle. Secondly - the petrol is sold by the liter here (there are 3.78 liters per gallon). The price for diesel is GBP 1.44 per liter so it's GBP 5.45 per gallon. Converted to US dollars that's $8.88 per gallon of petrol! That should make you glad for the price you pay for gas in the US! From Reed - Jan told me the cost of filling the tank after we pulled away: I guess she wanted me in a rational mood to continue the drive on to the castle!
After filling with petrol, we drove on to Leed's Castle. This is a smaller castle but it looks like the typical "fairytale" castle set on an island in a lake - the water all around providing the moat. It was first built in the 11th century, but it has gone through a fire and rebuild several times, the most recent rebuild being in the 1800's. The ownership passed into royal hands in 1278 and became part of the Queen's dower (property given to the wife from the husband at marriage). During Henry the VIII's reign he and Catherine of Aragon (his first wife) used this castle as a summer retreat. In the 20th century, Lady Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress became the owner and had the state rooms redecorated in the style of the1920's. After her death, she willed the castle to a trust to be protected and maintained as an historic sight for the benefit of the public From Reed - I noticed they called Lady Baillie Anglo-American instead of American-Anglo. She was American and married a British soldier..
We left the B&B about 9:30. We stopped at a service exit to fill the car with "petrol". First of all, the service exits off the motorways are only for getting gas, using restrooms and getting fast food or coffee. Then you get back on the motorway - there's no where else to go at these service exits - it's just a big circle. Secondly - the petrol is sold by the liter here (there are 3.78 liters per gallon). The price for diesel is GBP 1.44 per liter so it's GBP 5.45 per gallon. Converted to US dollars that's $8.88 per gallon of petrol! That should make you glad for the price you pay for gas in the US! From Reed - Jan told me the cost of filling the tank after we pulled away: I guess she wanted me in a rational mood to continue the drive on to the castle!
After filling with petrol, we drove on to Leed's Castle. This is a smaller castle but it looks like the typical "fairytale" castle set on an island in a lake - the water all around providing the moat. It was first built in the 11th century, but it has gone through a fire and rebuild several times, the most recent rebuild being in the 1800's. The ownership passed into royal hands in 1278 and became part of the Queen's dower (property given to the wife from the husband at marriage). During Henry the VIII's reign he and Catherine of Aragon (his first wife) used this castle as a summer retreat. In the 20th century, Lady Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress became the owner and had the state rooms redecorated in the style of the1920's. After her death, she willed the castle to a trust to be protected and maintained as an historic sight for the benefit of the public From Reed - I noticed they called Lady Baillie Anglo-American instead of American-Anglo. She was American and married a British soldier..
The grounds around the castle cover 500 acres and have beautiful gardens, a 6 foot tall hedge maze, and a falconry where birds of prey are trained and cared for. Lady Baille really enjoyed birds and she had black and white swans brought in to the park and the descendants are still on the grounds. (She went to Australia to get the black swans). From Reed - There are now many swans, many ducks, and especially what looked like Canada geese: that all adds up to a lot of large bird droppings all over the paved pathways - watch where you walk!
From Reed -The black swans were totally black; the lighter shades you see are the sunlight being reflected. Two black swans are now part of the crest picture for the Leed Castle, and the black swans seemed to know they are famous: they acted lordly and calmly, almost with a disdain toward us when we took several pictures. At least they didn't attack me.
The gardens were phenomenal! Reed loved the various colors of flowers still in bloom.
The gardens were phenomenal! Reed loved the various colors of flowers still in bloom.
The maze was incredible! I walked a small part of it and got worried I wouldn't find my way back! It was a bit eerie. From Reed- Jan got nervous thinking of Harry Potter. I was ready to go in and all around - but they didn't allow wheel chairs or scooters because of the steps in places.
After leaving the castle, we went to a supermarket. There are not many large grocery stores here. Most of the small towns have a mom & pop style grocery. But we remembered from being here before that some towns have a "Tesco" which is a large supermarket with a wide variety of goods and lower prices. We also needed a currency exchange and didn't quite know where to find one, but when we walked into Tesco there was a currency exchange right there by the front door!
I grabbed a shopping cart (trolley) and was immediately surprised that all 4 wheels can turn. the shopping carts we use in US have only 2 turnable wheels. Imagine having 4 wheels turning on you all at once. It makes for an awkward roll down the aisles at sort of an angle. Then when you fill the trolley with weight, it's even harder to maneuver. I watched several older ladies have trouble making their trolleys go where they wanted them to. It was a weird feeling. We got our food so we can eat in the room and make a lunch, then went back to the B&B for the night. From Reed- Now to bed, and an early start to Dover tomorrow. Our Dover Sea Safari boat ride is going to be something else!
Here are a couple more pictures of the interior of the castle: