In hindsight, we wouldn't have gone out Thursday, as the sunny intervals forecasted just did not appear. But with modern camera technology, you'd hardly know it.
I had arranged to take two people out to Park Gate: Fran and a new member of the group, Lisa. I arranged to pick both up from the station just after nine, and from there, a twenty minute drive to the Elham Valley through Barham.
Elsewhere, the season is weeks ahead, but Kent is doing its own thing. I had been alarmed by reports of a Monkey being almost in flower at the end of April, so trying to get here to assess the situation for friends around the country who want to visit.
Park gate was deserted, which was nice, plenty of parking.
And as we walked up the slope of the down, blotches of purple where EPO were still in flower, though some were starting to fade.
Some searching revealed two Monkey spikes forming, with as yet white buds showing at the end. So, at least a week if not two away from flowering, weather depending, of course.
Further along I found some fly, three spikes in flower, one with a clear red fringe to the labellum. The Lady is present, but only putting up a spike too, and at the far end, over a dozen Greater Butterfly rosettes are also putting up spikes.
Lisa had never seen Green-winged, so after walking back to the car, a short drive away is a little known field where some 140 or so GWO spikes were found a few years back.
I don't always come here, but as Lisa missed Marden, it was worth a stop.
Up the steep slope, again flecked with EPO spikes, some of different colour, but all EPO.
We were looking for something, different. Slightly different colour, and probably smaller.
Which is what Lisa found at the top of the slope, and indeed, here was her first GWO, its green gills clearly visible.
No Fly there yet among the tussock grass, so we made our way back down to the car, before driving across country to Covet Wood.
Covet Wood is where the white Lady sometimes shows, and it was worth calling in to check. Also last year there were Birds-nests too.
We walked up the path, then into the trees where the bank is low, and soon found several Lady, though none pale, let alone white.
And a good half an hour searching brough no BNO either. Its a variable species, so no real surprise.
Fran had to be in Margate for an appointment, so we walked to the car, then drove back to the A2, to Wingham, along to Stonar before dropping Fran off at Ramsgate station.
That gave the three of us time for lunch before our appointment.
We parked beside the river, and walked past the toll house and into the Crispin, where we took a table beside the window, and were handed menus.
The Crispin is hundreds of years old, timber framed, and no straight lines. They also serve a good pint and great food.
Lisa and I had roast beef with Yorkshires and roast taters, while Jools had lamb pie, which looked great too.
Time then to drop Lisa off at Priory station, and for Jools and I to attend a welcome meeting to the U3A, an organisation for older people, of which we are both now members.
There was tea and biscuits, while we were introduced to the organisation, and we introduced ourselves.
We shall see what comes of it all, but come four, we were heading back to the car and home at the end of another great day which contained no work.
Supper was cheese and wine, using the leftover bread from the day before, and then an evening of football.
And more wine.
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