Drive It Day 2009 Preparation

Had an interesting time today, went out in the Stag with Del Holman, the AO for West Kent TSSC to survey the route for this year's Drive It Day Run.

The theme this year will be visit places of interest throughout the Weald of Kent with a short trip into East Sussex, ending up at Headcorn Airfield

We couldn't visit our first port of call, the Yalding Organic Gardens as the village was flooded yesterday, we also had to modify our initial run south today because of ice!

We headed south through Hawkhurst to Bodiam which will be the second stop for either a lunch stop in the Castle Inn, or a visit to Bodiam Castle, whichever people prefer. our route then took us briefly into East Sussex before stopping at the Morgan Motor Museum. See photo's, a private collection of Morgan 3 Wheelers - unfortunately this will not be open on Drive it Day - but it made for a very interesting diversion.

see http://www.morganmuseum.org.uk for more info.


We then drove up through Tenterden to the next planned stop at Tenterden Vineyards, home to Chapel Down Wine where we had to sample the excellent champagne! - Del even bought two bottles.

Our next stop was Biddenden Vineyards where we had some coffee to soak up the champagne! A very nice gentlemen showed us the process of refining apple juice for bottling.

Our final leg took us to Headcorn Airfield which will be our final stop for a picnic and a tour of the wartime Air Museum there.

See http://www.1940.co.uk/activ/visit/lashend/lash.htm

Whilst on this journey an interesting problem arose with the Stag, on occasions the engine would not turn over and the voltage gauge read very low. Subsequent investigation and research when home suggests this may the battery, so guess what I'm doing tomorrow!