PassPorter pals at the world’s loveliest castle COMPLETED
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**DrDolphin** · 05-21-2005, 10:39 PM

What a lovely report cheryl!!! Great photos too!!! I SO want to go to England....

loobyoxlip · 05-21-2005, 11:13 PM

I think your pictures are pretty darn good myself, Chez

Especially the ones you took while eating ice cream and walking on crutches

**chezp** · 05-22-2005, 02:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I think your pictures are pretty darn good myself, Chez

Especially the ones you took while eating ice cream and walking on crutches

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, now I can't claim credit for those ones!

I had to hand the camera to Mark, as there was no way I could take those shots!

**chezp** · 05-22-2005, 02:55 AM

Part six: “ you’re going the wrong way Isabel!”

The final stop on our tour was the maze, which is at one of the furthest points of Leeds Castle. Having visited a few times now, we know the drill – walk up to the Castle, look around, walk through the gardens, go round the aviary and then get lost in the maze, before catching the land train back to the entrance. Well today of course, I wouldn’t be getting lost in the maze.

We got there and the others all set off, while Mark and I sat ourselves down at a nearby picnic table. Again, the weather was lovely, although it was clouding over a bit – and every time the sun went in, it did cool down considerably. Mark kept saying that it would be funny to go in through the exit and make the others think that he’d got there quicker than them. I knew he was going to try it, especially when he noticed that there didn’t appear to be a member of staff at the exit to stop people doing just that

– usually on past trips, there’s always been one there. And sure enough, within a few minutes, he disappeared, heading for the exit with a very mischievous look on his face!

I settled down to read the paper, put my ankle up and tried to keep an eye out for Mark on the grass mount overlooking the maze. I could see some people up there, but not him. However, I didn’t see him being escorted back out through the exit, so I assumed he’d made it up there fine.

About ten minutes later, the first of our group emerged from the maze. I was surprised how quickly they’d got round it, as it always seems to take us forever to escape the maze – or maybe it just feels like that!

A couple of minutes later, Mark emerged and it turned out that he’d been helping (or was it hindering – I couldn’t quite tell from the different stories I was being told!

) them to find the exit.

At one point, apparently Isabel had taken a wrong turn and Mark started yelling that out to her – and that’s when they worked out what he’d done, as they spotted him waiting at the end for them! I also understand that everyone else who was watching people struggle in the maze (presumably they’d actually been through it and not gone back in through the exit!

) started yelling Isabel’s name with advice on how to get out.

It sounds like they had a lot of fun in there, but they did all look pretty exhausted when they got out!

By now, it was about 1.10 and we were all getting hungry. We’d bought our contribution to the picnic with us, which meant I’d been able to start eating while the others were getting lost in the maze,

but no-one else had been able to get as far as lunch, as their goodies were back in their cars at the entrance, so having pretty much seen everything at Leeds Castle, we decided to go and wait for the land train to take us back. Of course, by the time we got there, we had about a 15 minute wait to the next one, as it runs once every half hour. Typical!

Still. It was nice weather and it gave us a chance to explore this final area, which had a selection of birds waiting to take part in the next display in about 15 minutes time. I’m sure it said birds of prey on the notice we saw about the display, but at least one of these birds is definitely not a bird of prey:

A Kookaburra – and I stand corrected! This was the bird I didn’t think could be classed as a bird of prey, but according to the website I’ve just found, it is! You learn something every day!

Awaiting their part in the bird of prey display

As we watched, their keeper came to take some of the birds out, ready to perform. When we looked at the area where the display was due to take place, there must have been about 50 people already sitting there waiting patiently. It was the area we’d left just five minutes earlier and at that point, there hadn’t been a single person there!

We went to sit on the grass to wait for the land train and grabbed a few more photos before it arrived:

DH’s together!

The PassPorter girls!

Next: “it’s time to go!” and an unusual lunch visitor…

welshandproud · 05-22-2005, 05:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I will post some in a bit as they are still on my laptop, I haven't transferred them to my online account yet.

[/ QUOTE ] i think you should take them off n put the piccies on here.... please...

i must say what a great day we had..

looking forward to the next meet

Annabel · 05-22-2005, 07:38 AM

Yes dear

I shall do it today *salutes*

Tara O'Hara · 05-22-2005, 08:18 AM

Cheryl, what a wonderful day you guys are having!!

Love the pics!!

**LizardCop** · 05-22-2005, 08:27 AM

A great trip report Cheryl, and you do take fantastic pictures

LisaJ · 05-22-2005, 09:14 AM

I am enjoying the TR very much!

I found a great site for any of you who are interested in some photos of Leed's Castle and Maidstone, Kent. It's below:

http://www.picturesofengland.com/Eng...e/Leeds_Castle

I have become lost in this site for the last half hour or so! I really do need to hop across the pond soon

lauren-roxy · 05-22-2005, 01:55 PM

Another wonderful update Cheryl, and the pictures of the birds are so good. Can't wait to read more, this is such fun reading!!

**2princessmom** · 05-22-2005, 11:33 PM

Can't wait for more! I just love getting lost in mazes!!!!! It is so fun to see how long it takes you to come out the other side.

**chezp** · 05-23-2005, 01:33 AM

Part seven: “it’s time to go!” and an unusual lunch visitor…

A minute or two later, the land train arrived and we all dutifully went to stand with the other people to catch it, only to discover that we’d been on the right side all along – the side furthest away from the sign telling you to “catch the land train here”

We all got on and there was no sign of anyone else heading for it. There was one woman walking up, but she wasn’t racing to get there, but still we sat and sat there. We figured we’d have to wait until 1.30 before we left – and that was another five minutes away

so I took the opportunity to grab some more photos:

Joshua

Annabel and Andy

By now, we were all getting bored and our stomachs were telling us that lunch was overdue, so Andy suggested in a none-too-quiet voice that perhaps it was “time to go” and “why were we waiting when there was no-one else coming?” I don’t know if it was that which did it, but literally just after those comments, the engine started up and we were off, even though it wasn’t 1.30 yet. I wonder whether the driver heard what was being said?

As the maze is very difficult to get photos of, as it’s on something of a hill, I tried my best to get some shots of it as we rode along:

And of course, I couldn’t resist grabbing some more shots of the Castle as we went along:

Soon we were back at the entrance and headed off for our picnic, although some plants caught my eye at the shop – exactly the marigolds I’d been looking for and hadn’t been able to find anywhere else. I really wanted to get them, but Mark dragged me off, promising that we could always come back later. Why do I listen to him?

We found a table in the sun and the others headed off to their vehicles to grab their supplies. Between us, we’d got everything we needed – I was so relieved that Annabel and Andy had thought to bring along Diet Coke – exactly what I needed!

We all tucked into our respective food, with various bits being shared around. Joshua and Ethan were really keen on going to play football – and didn’t really seem to want to eat anything. Where do they get their energy from, if not from food?!

We all sat there chatting, enjoying each other’s company and the good food!

It was a great picnic scene – and even Eeyore (Annabel’s backpack) was playing his part:

And someone else playing their part was the resident peahen, who seemed to have no fear as she strutted around our picnic table:

I can honestly say I’ve never seen a peahen up that close before.

It was an amazing experience – and wonderful to be able to study the beautiful detail on her face and body.

A few minutes later, she decided to snuggle down nearby for the afternoon and we didn’t see her again after that:

Next: Mark takes on the knights and why didn’t I buy those plants when I saw them?!

**DopeyGirl** · 05-23-2005, 02:16 AM

Great updates and photos as well . . .

Annabel's backpack was TOO CUTE!!!

As for kids and energy . . . I have been wondering that myself lately!!! Emilie gets this energy from . . . well, I don't know where . . . it seems like she NEVER eats!!!

I think it all just comes with being a kid!!! By the time you're an adult, you spent all of your energy as a kid, so it's much harder to muster any up!!!

Looking forward to more!!!

**Colexis Mom** · 05-23-2005, 05:48 AM

Another great update Cheryl

More fantastic pictures

disneymom9092 · 05-23-2005, 08:10 AM

I am enjoying this so much. It makes me want to go to ENglan even more. Dh and I promised ourselves that for our 25th anniversary (only 3 more years!!).