24 May 2016 - Canterbury Club Site, Kent

We left our rural camp in Suffolk at 10 am this morning, setting out onto the A14 toward Ipswich, then continuing onto the A12 until we joined the M25 at Brentwood, a road now familiar, as was that south on that major ring road taking us across the Queen Elizabeth Bridge at the Dartford Crossing. Now having crossed the tolled route, both by bridge and tunnel, we have debated the wisdom in setting up an account with the toll agency, which then allows for a discounted rate, but based on our experience with toll agencies both in Australia and New Zealand, they tend to grab lump sums by direct debit as required, and you end up with a residual amount to be refunded, a process that can be more problematic than paying the more inflated charge in the first place. Quite frankly, I have no issue with the £2.50 charged for each crossing; the stress of crossing the Thames further upstream through the middle of London, really would be painful.

We had pulled into a layby before joining the M25, partly because of warning signs earlier on the route to suggest there were one hour delays on the ring road between the junctions we would be travelling, and also to refresh before completing the second part of the drive. By the time we hit the motorway (bearing in mind that the A12 & 14 coming down from Stowmarket, while being a two lane split highway is not considered a motorway as it would be in New Zealand) the traffic was moving smoothly and we had no trouble navigating through onto the A2 / M2 toward Canterbury. 

Overriding our Tomtom several times, and more importantly as we travelled right through the middle of Canterbury, I did wonder whether the directions gleaned from the sketched map in the Camping & Caravan Club book were the best way. However arrive we did, and we were welcomed in great style. 

We were soon set up and exploring the camp further, found it to be the best camp we have had occasion to stay in. Except for one matter: with one hundred and fifty pitches, it is again astounding that there is only one washing machine and one dryer to serve the campers, but even worse is the fact that there is not even one clothesline. My many trips up to the laundry brought me in contact with a couple of eccentric male travellers and they were able to offer all sorts of advice as regards the local attractions, it would seem that our four nights here will be not be enough. But then that really is no surprise.