Thursday 31st March - Canterbury tale #1

​After the trails and tribulations of yesterday we started today with a trip to Maidstone to visit the worlds most forlorn motor-home supply shop. At least the return trip was enlivened by recreating yesterdays epic Medway adventure in a fraction of the time, and with the bonus of being able to enjoy the views. The real joy today though was walking into Canterbury, which charmed us both immensely. Entering the town via the Westgate Tower its charms are plentiful, with a variety of independent shops (a special note of appreciation to Canterbury Rock record shop, who will be enjoying Ray's patronage again very soon), fine parks and a real jewel in the magnificent Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, a museum, gallery and exhibition space attached to Canterbury Library, which is exactly as a museum should be; compact, engaging and varied, with exhibits from ancient Egypt rubbing shoulders with a collection of swords, stuffed animals, portraits and a fascinating collection of dolls house furniture among many curiosities.

​Even more impressive was the helpfulness and enthusiasm of the staff, who even at 5.30 on a Thursday were eager to help, especially the young man who encouraged us to handle various Roman objects and explained about each one. I'm not sure where enthusiast crosses into obsession but he appeared to be skating cheerfully between the two with a knowledge of his subject to be proud of. 

Buoyed up by our visit to The Beaney House we had a wander around the Cathedral grounds. The sheer scale and magnificence of the Cathedral, vivid in the setting sun of a late spring evening was the perfect end to our first full day on the road. Well, actually our vegi sausage and mash back in Mavis was the perfect end but somehow lacks the poetic splendour of the Cathedral. Meh.