Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

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Tharlow
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Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Tharlow »

I am organising a trip in the Medway Valley from Strood to Halling and return.
Please note this is the Sunday after the clocks revert to GMT (go back an hour).

We meet at the boathouse at 9.00 GMT
Load boats and leave at 9.30 GMT
Arrive at Strood Steps, Canal Road, Strood, ME2 4DR (18 miles) at 10.30 GMT
Please keep cars to a minimum as parking may be limited.
The nearest toilets are at Strood Station, if open.
Launch at 11.00 and head up river with the incoming tide passing under Rochester and Medway Bridges to Halling (4.5 miles) or Wouldham (5 miles) to have lunch.
Please note there will be mud and debris on the shore when launching.

High Water at Wouldham is at 12.38 GMT
Eat packed lunch whilst tide turns.
Start return at 14.00 GMT
I plan to arrive back at Strood Steps by 16.00 GMT and return to the boathouse by 17.30 GMT
Low Water at Strood Pier is at 18.11 GMT
A chart for Strood and Rochester is at
http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/ ... 2012-chart
and for the Medway Valley at
http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/ ... -rochester

Paddlers should be of a 2* standard.
Photos of last trip are at:-
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1392

This will be an inter-club trips with our friends from Bewl Water and Maidstone CCs.

If you are using club equipment, please book at:-
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1515

I'm at the boathouse for the next few Saturdays and will answer any queries you may have.

Sandbag
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Sandbag »

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the trip on the Cuckmere on Sunday; that was beautiful. Shame it is a bit far away.
Count me in for this one as well, please.

FearlessPhil
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by FearlessPhil »

Hi Tim,

Put me down as a definite maybe. All dependent on work commitments.

Regards

Phil

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Tharlow
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Tharlow »

FearlessPhil wrote:Hi Tim,

Put me down as a definite maybe. All dependent on work commitments.

Regards

Phil
Phil, can you book out a boat, etc at viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1515&start=10 just to be safe?

FearlessPhil
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by FearlessPhil »

Sorry Tim,
Change of availability I'm afraid. I'm not going to make it on Sunday.

Regards

Phil

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Tharlow
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Tharlow »

Rather low on numbers for this trip with Julia unavailable due to her son being ill. Kathleen having an upset stomach and Phil recovering from the previous day's FS&R course so it was down to just Sandrine, Andy, Martin, Dale and myself together with Paul and Alison from Kent Scouts.
Met at Strood with a very slowly lifting mist.
Image

After a tricky and muddy launch the first thing was to inspect the Russian Submarine U-475
Image

The mist was forecast to lift but remained for most of the day and together with a low sun and no wind created some good photo opportunities.
Image
Image

We eventually reached the new Medway bridge called Peter's Bridge (opened six weeks ago) named after the old cement works on which a new housing development is being built.
Image
Image

Also the sun appeared for the first time and we stopped at Halling pontoon for lunch.
With the sun came some wind, unfortunately against us so Paul and Allison in the open couldn't raise their sail.
Image

With the middle of the tide with us, the return was quicker and easier.
Image
Image
Image
Image

On our return to Strood we met our final challenge; getting out on a very muddy and slippery shore.
Image

Must bring lots of water and wipes next time!

andy g
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by andy g »

Many thanks for organising Tim, it was an enjoyable trip and as we discussed perhaps the next step up from the upper Medway trips being led by Mark over the next couple of weeks.

You are right about the mud, I am stills trying to remove it from my boat and my kit. Perhaps a different point of egress?

Andy

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Timmy
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Timmy »

Maybe Gillingham slipway, no mud for 3 hours either side of HW?

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Tharlow
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Tharlow »

Timmy wrote:Maybe Gillingham slipway, no mud for 3 hours either side of HW?
The Strand slipway is about 4.5 miles down river and we do use it for trips
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1477
The attraction of Canal Road, Strood is the Russian submarine, passing under the three Rochester Bridges and then 4.5 miles up river to Halling.
There is a possible alternative to Canal Road and that is the car park after Rochester Bridges.
There are steps nearby going down to the river but it would mean paddling against the tide under the bridges to view the sub.

As I said in my post, it's a muddy exit, next time we all bring water & wipes.

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Timmy
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Re: Medway Valley Sunday 30th October 2016

Post by Timmy »

Is it beyond a reasonable paddle to do the run through the bridges from that far down river if you get the tides right? May head down next week to have a looksee...
Have you used the Queenborough slip to snoop around the marshes?

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