Shame to waste a weekend like that.....

[oldgit]

Piled all the junk on board and after we had enough water set off in glorious sunshine up stream towards Allington Lock.

Clear views of the North Downs in the distance.

Past the old Friary on the left

and on underneath the ancient bridge at Aylesford seen in the background

20 mins later the lock appears round the corner


Into the lock cut overnight dark about hour after our arrival.
Breakfast in the Malta then on up th Maidstone.
Unfortunately have no idea that rowers from all over Kent had gathered for their annual rowing races, around 100 boats.
All very polite and helpful and we proceded on in gap between the events.

Lots of friendly waves

Loads of kayaks also out and about.


Rumour has it there have been a few whinges about over hanging trees up there in La La land down here we just man up and deal with it ourselves .

 

[LittleSister]

Lovely! :encouragement:

 

[oldgit]

Although most of the eights were blokes,an increasing number of young ladies apparently find the sport very attractive
Virtually no motorboats to be seen on the move, couple of small sports boats followed us through the lock with a single motor cruiser moored in the town centre.
..............and for the skipper of NautiFox, did spot a fridge and a cupboard on the way back down.
EA lads at lock gave the usual helpful and friendly welcome, pleased to see us
.While we were there,spotted a mink wandering around the lock.
It escaped capture despite best efforts of folk manning the lock

 

[Nauti Fox]

f NautiFox[/I], did spot a fridge and a cupboard on the way back down.

Ah, the medway chandlers, always something in stock. It's not been so bountiful of late, although there was a fine selection of semi submerged barrels recently.
Certainly nothing of the quality of this fine vessel from a while ago, complete with a small shrub....nice.

 

[Medway Mudlark]

Is this how you offset your carbon footprint........ by planting a tree on your flybridge? Won't Aylesford bridges be more difficult when it grows up!

 

[Nauti Fox]

Ah, I'm not brave enough to venture into such waters, I leave that to Oldgit who single handed keeps the propeller and shaft boutiques in business.

 

[oldgit]

Ah, I'm not brave enough to venture into such waters, I leave that to Oldgit who single handed keeps the propeller and shaft boutiques in business.

in the past we have managed to get big Brooms/Sealines and Princess up there.

 

[Nauti Fox]

No doubt you have come to some devious arrangement with the purveyors of propeller repairs and like some ghastly Siren, lure unsuspecting prey to their doom in return for a reduced fee for your own incidents.....

 

[oldgit]

Will have you kno sir,that have not bent or crunched anything for whole months !
This does not include Gelcoat by the way.
Pretty good season (so far) with about 140 hours run. Mainly due to a half decent summer and no cruise cancellations.
Only destination missed was Ramsgit.
Had the club "Valiant Cruise" for the special nippers this weekend.
Last organised club outing for season will be our"Xmas Cruise" to MDL Chatham during last weekend in October.
Fired up the Russian Eber and it worked first time
Quite a lot of changes at club this year mainly due to older club members selling boats and new members taking up berths.