SarahT goes to Town Quay Faversham.

[oldgit]

Despite the forecast decided it may well be the last decent weekend with enough daylight for a comfortable run round.Did a quick check of tides/ wind and after dragging the memsahib out of bed at the unearthly hour of 7am,we went as soon a boat floated.
As normal with my incredably detailed and forensic planning forgot about Sheppey Bridge,but we made it under with couple of feet to spare.Most difficult bit is Faversham creek itself which only navigatable 1.5h either side of high water and it is around 2 miles from Swale to town centre.
Town Quay is at the far end just below a little swing bridge.Run by Town council and the charge is basically on an honour system.Was helped greatly by a forumite over on Scuttlebutt who sent me a text as to if berth was free beforw we set out.
Town Quay.Tide in

Town Quay Tide out.

The creek has rather novel method of self dredging,around 3 hours after HW the pond beyond the lock is allowed to empty via an automatic sluice and dumps tons of water in to the now empty creek.Fascinating to watch during day.....disconcerting arouind 2am.

 

[boatone]

Well done, Fred - knew you would !

Did you manage to get back on you mooring on return - and what was the Italian like ?

 

[oldgit]

Was a somewhat more bumpy return on way back, boat got under Sheppey Bridge with a few inches to spare.
Possilipos ? was reassuringly expensive and the place was heaving,would appear to be the "place du jour" for the Range Rover and Jaguar owning set.
Will def do trip again,added to list of not to far but half decent run out and worth a visit destinations.
Maybe for couple of days next time.
The way out.

 

[teddington_lock]

You drove that Princess down that ?

It looks like a drainage ditch !

 

[oldgit]

All I need is a heavy dew to float my boat

 

[boatone]

All I need is a heavy dew to float my boat

....... As long as the tyres are pumped up

 

[Brayman]

You drove that Princess down that ?

It looks like a drainage ditch !

Is there another definition of the Mudway.

 

[teddington_lock]

Are the props and rudders buried in the mud in the 'tide out' photo ?

 

[oldgit]

Are the props and rudders buried in the mud in the 'tide out' photo ?

Yes,all the stern gear is buried in the mud.A majority of boats in tidal areas especially on east coast of UK would have mud berths.A comfy little slurry filled hole shaped to the boats hull soon forms in any permanent mud berth.My boat ( a Broom hull ) has a sustantial keel as the lowest part of the boat,this will touch the bottom first,it also enables the boat to sit on a hard surface,such as concrete slipway and leant against a wall or wharf,as we did recently to change a propellor.
It is only recently that the chicken and egg situation has arisen where boats have been designed that if they took the ground damage to the props and rudders could result,hence they have to be kept in a marina or afloat 100% of the time.

 

[boatone]

Are the props and rudders buried in the mud in the 'tide out' photo ?

Not as horendous as it may seem, Howard !

In a previous life I kept sailing boats on mud berths on the Hamble river at Deacons up near the A27 road bridge. Had to plan when I could leave and get back but the mud was soft and there was no risk of damage to the underwater gear.

Actually, my foray down to the Medway has made me question my whole attitude to life on the non tidal river. In some ways we don't know how well off we are with mooring places, shops and places of interest, manned locks etc. but we also miss out on the freedom of open water and being able to give the engines a good run. I found the trip quite liberating and it was good to be forced to work the tides and calculate depths and bridge clearances as a matter of routine.