FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Big Trip 2012 – Hong Kong, the UK and the South of France on CX, BA and EZ!

Jul 29, 2012 | 12:26 am

#121

matthandy

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: Kent, UK

Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 3,809

An air show and a trip to Nice

As I mentioned in my previous update, the drive down to Kent was pretty awful. We arrived at about 7.30pm and after a quick turn-around, dinner plans were made and we headed out to an absolutely fantastic pub, the Five Bells Inn at Brabourne. This place is everything an English country pub should be, cosy, traditionally decorated and with great food and drink. It was pretty busy but we were lucky enough to grab a table for dinner.

The menu was very cool indeed and was hand drawn in a cartoon style. I picked the baked camembert to start and haddock for my main. Everything is locally sourced so the pub also ticks the ethical boxes too!

The baked camembert

The haddock

The food was absolutely amazing and washing it down with a nice pint of local cider just topped off the evening. We left at about 10.30pm and headed back to my friend’s place.

For the following day we had planned to visit the Folkstone Air Show and after a bit of breakfast we made our way there. It took a little while to get parked as the town was very busy, as you’d expect. We arrived just in time to see the Red Arrows fly over which is always an amazing sight. The promenade was packed out so we made our way down onto the beach. I suppose for me it was quite a contrast to visit an English beach, with the large pebbles, ice cream vans and cold water! Quite different to almost any beach that you could find on the coast of New South Wales.

We found a spot and then basically spent the rest of the afternoon watching the aircraft. A friend of my friend arrived with his son, who really seemed to enjoy the display

The photos:

A packed beach

The Red Arrows

Hawk

Stearman

Royal Navy Sea Fury

Sea King

We walked along the beach and found that there was a helicopter doing ‘rides’. It was a bit naff actually although it did right on to the beach. I thought that this was a little dangerous, and more than once a child almost ran out in the landing area whilst the helicopter was just about to touch down.

We found another spot on the beach and watched the rest of the aircraft, all the time waiting for the mighty Typhoon that would finish off the display.

Helicopter rides

Relaxing on the beach

Lancaster bomber and Spitfires

Spitfire

Reply