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
