A day off, and able to lay in bed all day if we wanted!
Outside it was dark and overcast, but at least the rain held off.
After breakfast we decide to head out, and for me to get back on the train of those darned Kentish Orchids. The orchid season is short, at least the peak is, from the emergence of the first Early Spiders until the end of the main season when the Common Spotted, Fragrant, etc fade is about six week, this year that main season lasted from the second week in April until the beginning of June, some seven weeks. After then there is a lull until the Helleborines show, which this year means that the Marsh came out in the middle of June, and the others have now started to show. It is odd then, that the most common of Helleborines, the Broad-leaf, I have never photographed before. Quite why this is, I can’t explain, but the Broad-leaf is very common, like always, if you know where to look.
So we took a trip up the A2, past Canterbury to a site we have been to before, but mainly to see Early Purples. Anyway, after dodging roadworks and some agricultural show traffic, we turned off the main road, and quickly we were on a narrow lane carved into the chalk hillside. Parking is always troublesome here, but we find a place on the side of the road, and head off following the directions I had been given. And exactly where I was told where they were, there they were! Result.
At first I could only see spikes, spikes that had yet to open, but in time, after searching, right on the side of the lane, I found two that had flowers open. It was, however, very dark. I ramped up the ISO to 10,000, used the mini tripod and so got some shots, not brilliant, but still. We had found what we were looking for.
Happy with that, we set off for another site, so I could check on the progress of the Violet Helloborine. The Violet is rare, and only grows in a couple of remote locations in Kent. But it is a nice walk over the fields to the wood where they should be found. So, after braving the Canterbury taffic, we head back out into the country, head down more, narrower lanes until we come to the parish church, beside which is the lane leading to the the wood.
It is about a mile or so along the lane, but it has fine views into the valley below, even if after the heavy rain it was partly hidden by mist. In the hedgerows, cobwebs were strung with drops of dew, some of which we did snap of course. As the rain had stopped, the air was full of hungry insects and bugs, all of wich I tried to snap if they landed.
Into the wood, and it was so gloomy in there. We walk along the track, trying to remember what it was like last year, and finding no trace, until right on the side of the track was a single, but strong spike, not quite out, maybe two weeks away. Despite hinting all around, we found no other spikes, but then it is some six weeks earlier than when we were here last, last year. Maybe more will show.
Back along the track to the car, and then off to find a pub in which to quench our thirst and maybe have lunch. In the end we arrive at the Compasses Inn, only to find them preparing for a wedding and there being no food. But they do have beer and crisps! So, we take them outside to sit in the outside, still cloudy, but getting humid.
One final call was at a very well known site, as I wanted to check on a Broad-leaf that we saw growing in June, and had no pigmination, which is rare. Sadly, it seems to have died off, so I walk along the track some more and find many more Broad-leaf, stronger than in the open as opposed to being in shade. I will return in a couple of weeks to snap them on a sunny day, when they should all be open.
We head home, and reward our excursions with coffee and limoncello and grappa tart. Which is always nice.
That night I settle down to watch the 3rd place play off game, and Holland cruise to a 3-0 win against Brasil, to complete a dreadful week for the hosts. Brasil played poorly, and showed they learned nothing from the thrashing against Germany. Oh well.
Sunday.
Another overcast day, which is just typical for a weekend I suppose. Looking at the weather forecast shows it to be gloriously sunny on Monday, just in time for heading back to work.
At half ten we head out in the car so I could snap the local Marsh Hellebornines near Sandwich. There was no wind, which means that even in the poor light, the spikes should not move so I should get some good shots. In the end it was just as well I went when I did, because after parking up and seeking permission form the office to head to the orchid meadow, I find the place overgrown and many of the spikes already dying off. There were just enough to allow me to get shots, and so tick another Kentish Orchid off the list for the year, but I got soaked walking through the meadow and laying down to get the shots. Oh well.
With that, we head home to have some lunch, and then a hard day’s relaxing stretched out before us. Jools did some gardening, and I did, well, nothing, and it took me all afternoon to do it. Dad and Jen were to come round in the evening for dinner, so at four I began to prepare dinner, roast beef and all the trimmings. And so went the rest of the afternoon and early evening.
At half seven, it was time to get ready for the big game. The biggest game, the final. Dad and Jen left with slices of tart, and I settled down and tried to stay awake through the first half. Although it was not that end to end, finals seldom are, it was gripping stuff, and Argentina missed two clear cut chances, but Germany had the majority of the possession and were pretty much in control. The game went into extra time, then with seven minutes to go, Germany scored a brilliant goal to win the game and the trophy. No way back to Argentina who began to kick and lash out.
And that was three days at home. I am off on my travels once again tomorrow, so I will see you at the weekend, the start of several weeks at home if I am lucky. I need the break to be honest.
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