Wednesday 15th February 2023

Woke around 0730, but dozed to the radio until 0800. Got up and abluted, then went downstairs for breakfast. Headed back out toward Strood, where I picked up a coffee, and bought some lunch items in M&S. Mopped up some of the outlying villages, mostly in Hoo, before returning to take a bite out of the Hoo stock Had my lunch in the car on Church Green, which affords a spectacular view of Rochester cathedral, and castle, across the Medway estuary, and walked up a striking tree-lined lane to All Saints church. Spent the remainder of the working day plugging away at the Strood stock, then drove back to Maidstone. No room in the Premier Inn car park again, so drove back down the hill and sat in the car listening to the News. Walked across the footbridge over the Medway, and past some ancient looking buildings, climbing up into the town centre. Ended up at a bistro next door to the rather quaint Hazlitt theatre in the town centre. Friendly staff, and the food wasn't bad. Creamy mushrooms on toast to start, followed by roast leg of rabbit with potatoes and green beans in a light mustard sauce. They had a bloke playing guitar in there, singing gentle cover versions of recognisable hits from yesteryear....nice voice. Walked back to the car and picked up my stocklists, then headed back up the hill to the Premier Inn. Listened to the R5Live! commentary on the Arsenal v Man City game...Man City won 3-1, knocking the Gooners off top spot!