In September I took Sea Bear down to visit the Medway. On the first day I sailed down the Wallet to anchor at Pyefleet for the night. Next day up to and across the Wallet Spitway, crossing the top of the Whitaker spit and down the Middle Deep and West Swin to join the Thames, upriver then past Shoebury Ness until I crossed the main channel by the Nore Swatch and so entered the Medway. I proceeded to enter Stangate creek to anchor for the night.
Stangate creek
On of my reasons for this Medway visit was to visit the historic dockyard of Chatham docks so I motored up the Medway to enter and berth at Gillingham marina. That evening I took a walk to a nice old pub in Gillingham called the Ship.
The Ship Inn, Gillingham
The next day I walked to the Historic Dockyard, it turned out to be a little farther to walk than I expected, Chathman marina is nearer .It was a very interesting day wondering around the various exhibits and I particularly enjoyed the ropemaking. The place is well worth a visit.
Victory model
Inside of shed roof
knotwork frame
sailing barge & dock
Leaving the Marina ventured further up the river to see Upnor & Upnor Castle. It was interesting to visit this spot as this was where my sailing mentor and friend Don had grown up and learnt to sail.
Upnor castle
Then I turned back down the river to once more anchor at Stangate creek.
It had been my desire to complete my trip by visiting Queensborough and sail around the Isle of Sheppy but the forecast wind was from the NW and the pilot advised that the anchorage was not sheltered in those conditions. Another consideration was the tides would be wrong a – too late in the day for completing the passage to Harty Ferry in daylight. So I left it for another day.
Instead I headed back across the Thames and up the West Swin and Middle Deep across the Wallet Spitway and so the Pyefleet. I did briefly consider making for the Orwell directly but decided it wouldn’t be worth having to buck the tide and tiredness later, beside Pyefleet is a nice anchorage even it is a bit of a diversion. A good sail the next day took me back to my mooring on the Orwell.