Aylesford Bridge

Another gloriously sunny day today. We drove round the M25 on our way to Aylesford, near Maidstone in Kent, to pick up my 88-year old aunt as we're taking her to the Isle of Wight for a few days. She was a nurse at the TB hospital near Ventnor back in the early 1950s, a huge place overlooking the Channel - see here.

On the way back we popped into Aylesford village as I wanted to see the old bridge over the River Medway, begun in the 13th century with a modified central span put in in 1811. I last saw it in around 1959 when I cycled over it while staying with a friend in Maidstone. Here it is with the Church of St Peter and St Paul's in the background. It's closed to motor vehicles, now but open to walkers and cyclists. We returned via the A25 as one would have done before the M25 was built. Far more restful, and we stopped at the White Hart in Brasted en route for lunch - see extra.

Off to Portsmouth tomorrow morning for the ferry to Ryde on the IOW.  I shall back-Blip when we come back to Hampton on Thursday.