Bombus terrestris in Eryngium Maritimum

Its a bumblebee for sure, but is it a buff tailed (b. terrestris) or is it a white tailed (b. lucorum)? I'm convinced its terrestris, so called because it nests under the ground. By the way, lucorum nests under the ground too, but a google translation from latin to english gives 'groves'. You should try translation of bombus into english to see what you get! As for Eryngium Maritimum, its Sea Holly - easy to see how it got its name. But enough of all that.

Today was about getting the girls to a good sandy beach, so we headed for Broadstairs after a slow-paced start to the day, following advice from a local that this was the best beach in the area. I'd guess everyone else had the same advice, as it was crammed. We didn't get to see the beach itself, so I can neither confirm nor deny its sandyness, but the town itself and all the surrounding roads were full to bursting (we checked a lot).

Plan B involved a further drive along the coast and such second thoughts often have a habit of turning into plan A beating ones. We found the small town of Sandwich, which was much more the our type of thing. A peaceful small town on the River Stour, with fine old buildings and unusual road names, the highlights of which (for us as least) were Knightrider Street, No Name Street and Buttermilk Street (renamed to the more mundane but equally appealling Cottage Row).

Slightly less appealing was the toll. Strategically positioned outside the town, between it and the beach, at £7, its not a road the ill-informed should travel along, only to find the destination lacking in toilets and the all-important sand. After a few questions, to which we received agreeable responses, we headed on our way, to the beach and a picnic lunch, safe in the knowledge that there would be toilets and the appropriate amount of sand.

Armed with food, drinks, a beach tent, towels, swimming costumes, camera, lenses, buckets, spades and the kitchen sink, we somewhat hesitantly headed towards the beach. A beach that on first inspection appeared completely shingly, without a trace of sand. Thankfully, we were not disappointed, but for the best shingle to sand ratio, go to Sandwich bay on a falling tide, beyond the shingle lies the softest of sand and don't stop driving until you reach the Princes Golf Club, where you'll find the best of it.

Home tomorrow and then work work work.

I hope you like it.