We had a record number of cancellations, mainly due to illness unfortunately, from this visit.
Nevertheless, 41 of us were met by Phil, our regular driver, and embarked on a coach trip to Arundel.
Some of us had decided to join a guided tour and others opted for a walk through Arundel Park, so the coach wound its way through Arundel to park first by the Cathedral, where over half of us got out. The rest of us drove down to a crowded coach park and headed for the Castle Gardens.
Unfortunately the Tulip Festival has ended early this year, but there were still plenty of tulips on show, along with a fine display of camassias and emerging alliums. There was also a good array of fruits and vegetables for those of us who, like Napoleon’s armies, garden on our stomachs. A few of us took the opportunity, on a day with little brightness and a keen northerly wind, to spend some time examining the treasures in the castle. Shopping also featured in many visitors’ day and we rejoined the coach clutching bags with plants and other treasures from the Craft Market and other outlets.
Restarting the coach gave the signal for the rain, which had threatened all afternoon, to descend so we were all grateful it had held off till we were safely in the dry.