The equinox took place, signifying the victory of light over darkness, and marking the end of the year. The author was on vacation and had completed all their tasks, so they were free to enjoy their time off. However, their partner Jools had half a day of work, which would be followed by a celebration lunch paid for by their employers. The author dropped Jools off at work and proceeded to drive to the far west of Kent to visit some churches.
Kent is not a large county, but going cross-country or cross-county takes some time. The author drove on the main roads, avoiding rush hours in and around Maidstone, Tonbridge, and Tunbridge Wells. Tonbridge was once a sleepy village, but it became a major junction when the railways arrived. The author visited Penshurst Place, home to the Sidney family since Tudor times, and its adjacent church. The Sidney Chapel, where the great and good are buried and remembered, has a colourful roof and 15th-century font. The author left a fiver for the church and then drove to Speldhurst, where they were unable to park near the church, which they thought was closed. They proceeded to Groombridge, where there is a small chapel with fabulous glass. However, it was pouring with rain and dark, so the author did not stop.
The author decided to skip the final village church and went straight to Tunbridge Wells, where there was another church to revisit. They parked at a car park high up in the parking house and went down the narrow streets lined with shops. They attended a service and observed before getting the shots. They were questioned by a warden as to why they were taking pictures, but the author only said that they enjoyed it. After getting their shots, they kept their promise to a young man selling the Big Issue and gave him a fiver without taking a copy. It was raining hard again by the time they got back to the car.
The author had two and a half hours to get to Folkestone to pick up Jools after her meal. Traffic into Tunbridge Wells from this way was crazy, so they took a different route. They stopped at Stop 24 services for coffee and something to eat and had 90 minutes to kill. At quarter past four, they picked up Jools and drove back home.