Once upon a year, in something that has become a tradition for Heather and I (after our first date) there is a trip to Rochester. This year’s was earlier this month, along with a couple of WAY friends.

The train down to Rochester was uneventful but did have the excitement of arriving at the brand new station. It’s not the most exciting station, and feels a little like every other modern station building but then there is a tradition of building very similar stations on the network from almost the beginning. What they do need to sort out is the crossing of the main road outside the station as one heads to town—moving some of the lights to outside the station would be helpful!

Whilst Heather went to find other people I had a quick wander, winding up round the back of the cathedral and to the castle before returning to be greeted with a glass of fizz. It seemed to be dinner time but to be honest I wasn’t particularly hungry so left others in Simply Italian while I did some more exploring. That exploring included a brief visit into the Guildhall Museum, which I apparently missed at least half of. There was also a delve into Baggins Bookstore, a place from which I am liable to never escape if not careful (several books followed me out as it was). I settled into Ye Arrow to await people finishing dinner so we could visit the castle.

It’s not like Rochester Castle is unfamiliar by now but it’s impressive and interesting and always nice to see. It was also fun encouraging people to climb higher than they might have done in the past. And of course, it was an opportunity to get the now traditional photograph of Heather on a bench, though this time there’s also one of us both. We could also look down from the roof onto the wedding photographer having his bride and groom strike some strange poses in the bailey below, and the hula hoop skills demonstration.

Having climbed up and down the castle the rain began to come in earnest so we took shelter in the cathedral. Unfortunately there was a service going on that closed off some of the more interesting parts of the cathedral. The droning of the preast also drove me enough to distraction that I had to leave and so braved the (very heavy) rain down the high street to the Golden Lion. Even more unfortunately that walk drowned a camera!

Others took refuge in a cafe but eventually the rain stopped (more or less) and there was time for a last round of drinks back in Ye Arrow before heading home, once again risking the perilous crossing of the road to the station and the trains away. Until next year!