Gary Fox
N/A
Darnett Fort still has Napoleonic defences: sharpened sticks pointing out of the mud to injure enemy troops, the idea was copied by the Viet Cong...
Low tide launch sites for dinghy on Medway around Gillingham?
- Thread starter Adios
- Start date
Adios
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Might give that a miss then, in an inflatable.
Capt Popeye
Well-known member
Guess that first approach is by Mobile Phone, guess that you had access to one ?
Yep worked there some years ago so was allowed free acess around the Marina; knowing /living nearby, a Berth Holder would very much appreciate the security working as intended . Drugs can be a problem plus some Travellers who oft camp up nearby sometimes on the Gillinham Slip
In another thread I mentioned a Gun Shot one night which woke me up, it turned out later on that a person involved in Drugs had shot another Fella at the Gillinham Slip whilst he was Angling
Although Gillinham Marina is a great place to moor /berth up, good acess to the lower tidal Medway , so a good start to a sail from there, security very good, (details withheld) safe berthing and access from pontoons; the surrounding area has attracted the low lifes in certain areas; probably would not have flourished if the Navy Boys were still garrisoned there, and the Night Patrols were still in existance, bur long gone now !
Gary Fox
N/A
You can see the punji sticks at low tide from the main channel, but I don't know about the other side. In the sat-pic above, it looks clear.
Gary Fox
N/A
I lived aboard in the tidal basin, it was great to have a nosy security guard who knew our faces; Captn Popeye is correct about the Caravan Club Libertarians being a threat in that area.
Pye_End
Well-known member
Yes fine with inflatable - up behind or to the right of the barges.
The mote had a scaffold board bridge across it (2019 from memory), so no problem with access (brambles etc permitting!). There is even a ladder to get up to the very top, though I must admit I didn't try it.
oldgit
Well-known member
There is no public launching access to the river in Lower Upnor all the ramps are gated.
You might be able to launch with difficulty from the now defunct Arethusa Activity Centre car pack at HW, but after that its soft mud all the the way down. to LW.
. Also Deadman's Island, which is littered with human bones, very exciting for kids.
Its supposed to be a restricted area. and no landing.
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Gary Fox
N/A
Even more exciting!....Also Deadman's Island, which is littered with human bones, very exciting for kids.
Its supposed to be a restricted area. and no landing.
Adios
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I looked into that and found quite a funny article for the number of times they said no one can go there. Kent's terrifying forgotten island littered with human remains
Outside of nesting season its fair game for a bit of harmless footfall IMO. Anyone who thinks we mustn't go there because its a SSSI should look at the dark areas on this map of SSSIs. Its really a way of removing our rights in a way no one feels able to argue against. A land grab by people who have made a job for themselves managing the land they are increasingly grabbing. I've had to argue a few times with people that humans are part of nature too, seems forgotten.
Gary Fox
N/A
Yes jobs for the jobsworths, nobody has the right to stop you playing football. Even better if you can find a skull to kick around
Capt Popeye
Well-known member
There is no public launching access to the river in Lower Upnor all the ramps are gated.
You might be able to launch with difficulty from the now defunct Arethusa Activity Centre car pack at HW, but after that its soft mud all the the way down. to LW.
. Also Deadman's Island, which is littered with human bones, very exciting for kids.
Its supposed to be a restricted area. and no landing.
Yep, have not been to Upnor for many many years (used to be my Local boating place from Dinghys to 34ft Launch) , there used to be a good Fixed Timber Walkway near the Ex Arethusa moorings which was above HW marks and went below LW mark ; recall that some local Dinghy Club members walked their Dinghys down this Walkway and launched them; so an Inflateable should be no problems
Adios
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Good potential for a what did you do over the summer holiday show and tell thing at school ☠Yes jobs for the jobsworths, nobody has the right to stop you playing football. Even better if you can find a skull to kick around
FulmarJeddo
Active member
Roger, Have you used the Strand recently? I used it regularly back in the late 1970s early 80s as a member of the Kent Boat and Ski Club when we were based there, but I think its changed a bit since then. I regularly attend the MSBA meetings and it gets a regular mention about the amount of silting. Medway council who own it do not have the funding to keep it clear.
Concerto
Well-known member
David, I last used it about 8 years ago. My comment was based on that experience. The link to the web cam I posted in post #14 shows it is reasonable clear for a fairly long distance. A regular check near low water will confirm how much access is possible.
oldgit
Well-known member
The last resting place of this man is there. !
Deadman's Island: Grave of 'brave' surgeon destroyed by tides
Deadman's Island: Grave of 'brave' surgeon destroyed by tides
The grave of a "brave" naval surgeon is currently lying in disrepair on an island off the Kent coast.
Deadman's Island, near Sheerness, was used as a mooring site for prison hulks, with erosion now bringing the remains of those who died and were buried there to the surface.
One of the graves belongs to Victorian naval surgeon Dr Sidney Bernard, who risked and ultimately lost his life during an outbreak of deadly yellow fever.
In 1845 the crew of the naval ship HMS Eclair contracted yellow fever off the West African coast and HMS Rolla was sent to assist. Bernard, the Rolla's surgeon, moved to Eclair to treat the crew. On the ship's return to England, the authorities ordered the captain to moor in Stangate Creek to avoid spread of the disease and a cutter was deployed to prevent anyone leaving the ship. Bernard continued to tend to the crew until he also caught it and died aged 27 on 9 October 1845. He was buried on Burntwick Island and his grave, isolated among the marshy grasslands, is still visible and maintained by the Royal Navy.
Adios
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I see your point but its a different island and if the grave is visible it will simple to avoid
Adios
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He goes there for a bit more filming again then tells everyone else that they can't go there because they deserve to rest in peace. Do as I say. I can't see how the very few people with the means to go there having a look is disturbing the dead. The souls are long departed.
Capt Popeye
Well-known member
Re the Strand Launching site; my last visit was about 25 years ago, I used to live nearby so used the site quite a lot for a dinghy to row out; I recall that the slipway comprised of a hard, poss concrete main structure that extended to about LW mark, this structure I recall was about 2m or 6ft wide, either side was mud covered stones /rocks etc so was hard enough to walk on easily
Maybe me or time its not like that now ?
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Capt Popeye
Well-known member
A bit of fred Drift ere ; seeing the Chart showing Stangate Creek reminded me. that when we moved to Medway from London in the 60s became a member of SYC where many fellows were employed at the Dock Yards then, listening to them discussing where in Stangate they dumped various items from the Dockyard to loose them; bearing in mind the Nuclear Subs were there then, I refrained from using Stangate for many years ; duno if the waters in the Creek glowed in the dark or what, maybe the raised Anchors had mud of a certain colour and texture ?
Concerto
Well-known member
I agree that is what is there structurally but I fear the settlement of mud from the river has made the settled mud higher than the concrete slipway. Regular cleaning would help but the slipway would always get covered again in a short while. Also I expect the depth at the end of the slipway is reduced as well.
About 8 years ago at low water springs I feel sure there was still a drop at the end of the slipway, but this may have disappeared. The web cam should show if this is true. On Wednesday 31st March the predicted low water at 0934 is one of the lowest for the year. A good time to check. Webcam | Medway Cruising Club