Rochester to Allington in Pictures.

oldgit

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Early start to get under Aylesford Bridge without dropping arch.
Lock opens 2 hours before HW. Journey approx 1.5 hours at average of 5 knots with tide.
First landmark.
Medway Motorway Bridge.

Depth 10ft . Airdraft 100ft. :)
Wouldham Church.

Depth 10ft.
Burham


Depth 10ft.
Snodland

Depth 7ft.
Burham Old Church.

Depth 6ft.
The Hawkstone.

Depth 5ft

Old Oxbow tributory and Heronary.

Depth 3-4 ft. :(
Approaching Aylesford Paper Mill site.

Depth 3-4 feet. 4 knots
Just below Aylesford Priory

Depth 6-8 ft. 4 knots
Aylesford Priory.

Depth 6-8 ft. 4 knots
Approaching Aylesford Village.

Depth 4-5 ft.
The Bridge ! 0 knots.

3 feet under the props and about 2 feet over the mooring light. :) :):)
Audience in adjacent pub as always.


M20 Motorway Bridge. 4 knots.

Depth 6ft

Depth 6ft.
Arrived at lock just as gates opened and a small narrow boat emerged.
Exiting on Sunday.
Enthusiastic welcome from lock staff.
I week licence and 3 days mooring with power. £102.00. Lockie was bit embarrassed about size of bill, until I mentioned that only a week or two earlier paid nearly that for single night in St Kats.
All staff seem pretty chipper about situation on the Medway especially with the amounts that have been recently invested on infrastructure regards locks, fish passes and improvements to shower and toilet facilities.
The fly in the ointment. Yobbish behaviour from a few local oiks "cooling off" at certain locks, complaints to lockies, who can do little but call local police.
River noticably clear of of rubbish.
Spotted merely two decent sized logs in entire journey and very little in the way of reeds and branches.
This is possibly due to Peel Ports sending up craft to collected rubbish and EA retrieving a tree truck or two from the tidal section immediatly below lock.
If have been considering attempting this trip, now is good time to have go.
Mooring is very limited, give them a ring to make sure there is space.
If all else fails possiblity to moor outside the Malta or Allington Marina or even go through to Maidstone Town Centre, take all the warnings with pinch of salt, have been mooring there overnight over past 30 years without a problem, its just so ******** noisy .
 
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Nauti Fox

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28 Oct 2003
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Ducatiproteam.co.uk
Yes, at work Fred (now have a lead time into August) you must remember work?
Do you want props ordering while your away, or how about some lights for your arch?
 

oldgit

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6 Nov 2001
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Allington Lock. Moored in Lock Cut.

Very busy from first light with loads of joggers and blokes on off road bikes going across lock gates followed later by folks wandering along footpath and taking advantage of the little Pop Up Cafe on Lock island, lockies reckon its been a big attraction and encouraged visitors down to the river.
The rather dire Malta pub was dead quiet with only the odd boat parked outside.
The EA patrol boat disappeared upstream with its blue lights flashing. Oiks in a red speedboat speeding apparently.
Miscreants apprehended, Police attended, names/ addresses taken, error of their ways pointed out to oiks . :)



Where s all the water gone. Completely dries at LW.


Lock chamber has been completely rebuilt , still a few little jobs to finish off but............... open for business. :)
Spotted a couple of seals on way back down AND got wave from Nauti Fox , actually on reflection , might have been complaining about the wash ?
Next trip............. Ipswitch first organised RCC offshore cruise. time to fill up the tanks.
 
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oldgit

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we have thought about doing it next time we are round on the medway, but guess you need quite careful planning to get the tides right and getting under the low bridge thats up there?

Not such a drama.
The purpose of this particular expedition was to prove that it is possible to get a mid sized cruiser beneath Aylesford Bridge with a fixed radar arch.
Merely a case of timing.
Radar arch on my boat is hinged which gives an airdraft of 11ft. Highest point flyscreen. Can get under Windsor Bridge with a few inches to spare.
With arch up, its around 15 ft with riding light/radar scanner and TV antenna.
The lower the airdraft, the bigger the "window" to get under the bridge.
Neaps are of course best, big springs can prevent anything except a kayak going through at HWS.
Aylesford Bridge at LW.

Club visit from few years ago and yes it is just after Guy Fawkes in November. :)

Rule of thumb.
Lets assume HW at Allington is 12.00.
Lock opens 2 hours before. 10.00.
Time from Rochester to Allington @ 4- 5 knots 1.5 hours.
Leave no earlier than 08.30

Getting out .
Go early Two hours before HW
Go late. One hour after High.
Lock keeper will always advise on best time for your boat.
Once above lock, bridges in Maidstone town centre will be the final barrier to flybridge boats, those sans flybridge should be able to get nearly to Tonbridge.
 
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