Monday 25 July 2016

A few more days away

Last week I shared our three days in Sussex and Essex.  Our last two days were in Essex.  And I'm glad to say that the weather was glorious.

On the Thursday morning we drove to the Beth Chatto gardens.   Most places don't open until 10am but this garden opened at 9am.  We got there around 9.35am and had the gardens to ourselves for half an hour - just us and the birds singing.  It was wonderful.  We even woke up this duck.











Then we were off on our southerly drive via lots of little villages until we got to Heybridge Basin.






We visited Paper Mill Lock


We arrived in Maldon and booked into our B&B.  This was the view from the bedroom window.

We walked along the promenade before dinner.




The next morning was warm and sunny.  We were served breakfast in the garden and watched this Thames barge leave.


Roger wanted to visit Burnham-on-Crouch as he had worked as a sailing instructor there 50 years ago.


My friend Sandie had told me about Beeleigh Abbey and fortunately the gardens were open the day we were nearby so of course we visited.







We went to the canal lock on the Blackwater Canal near the Abbey.


We drove across country on our way home stopping in Saffron Waldon for a late lunch.


We had a wonderful 5 days and packed in far more than outlined here.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice


2 comments:

  1. I have really enjoyed this Bernice. So full of reminiscences of times when I visited the same areas. Beth Cahtto, for instance was always so generous to us when we visited from Flatford MIll on Botanical Illustration courses. I also sailed at Maldon!
    Beth's garden ahs really matured since then. Dorothy

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  2. I really enjoyed these photos and post Bernice, you certainly packed in a lot in those few days and I'm so glad the sun followed you. We visited Beeleigh Abeey earlier this year, such a beautiful building and setting. Seeing Heybridge Basin makes me want to be there. We've had many early evening walks and meals in the pub by the sea lock. It is such a lovely spot. You were very close to my friend when you stayed at the B&B in Maldon. Her house overlooks the quay and we enjoy sitting on her balcony watching the world go by. Hoppe you come back one day x

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