Nauti Fox
Well-Known Member
I must report that my cheese on toast was cold, the chef was severely admonished for this occurrence, with unbelievable fortitude Fred and myself continued with our perilous voyage through the upper reaches of the Medway.
We even lost an engine within about a mile of leaving Yalding, and after much discussion we agreed we'd press on without outside assistance, after all the young Lady walking a dog on the riverbank wouldn't answer our pleading calls.
We did get a little held up at one of the locks when after half an hour (we were engrossed in wowing passers by with our nauticalness) we noticed it wasn't filling very quickly and with lightening reflexes Fred wandered to the far lock gates and without any thought for his own safety peered into the murky depths, summoned all years of boating knowledge and announced the gates were leaking. After much discussion I took on the herculean task of opening as many upriver gates as my Adonis like body would manage. Ten minutes and one sluice gate later the problem was solved.
When we came to leave the lock of doom the downriver gates didn't open very far due to some underwater obstruction (U boat?) which the EA are fixing very soon. With great skill we managed to wedge ourselves between the gates, stuck on our rubber rubbing thing, summoning the mighty horsepower available (48 a side) we popped out and chef was summoned to supply us with nourishment, we feasted on a cheese and tomato sandwich, no not tomato, he'd forgotten them and a cup of Earl Grey.
With more daring do we navigated our way to Allington lock where we had to wait for the mighty Medway to fill the river.
During our stay there we repaired the engine, talked to the very pleasant EA chaps who mentioned they were putting in new moorings and generally drank tea until departure time when all shore leave was cancelled.
We bravely set off into the tidal Medway under power from both the mighty engines and had an uneventful trip, perusing the delights of the Medway Chandler's wares. Also available were supplies from the Medway Garden centre and the Medway auto supplies, it really is the one stop shop.
Thanks to Fred for enjoying the trip with me and if you haven't been up the non tidal Medway, do go as the scenery is wonderful and the EA are trying hard to encourage more people to use it.
Fred will be posting pics of our epic trip once he's recovered from drinking the developing fluid.
We even lost an engine within about a mile of leaving Yalding, and after much discussion we agreed we'd press on without outside assistance, after all the young Lady walking a dog on the riverbank wouldn't answer our pleading calls.
We did get a little held up at one of the locks when after half an hour (we were engrossed in wowing passers by with our nauticalness) we noticed it wasn't filling very quickly and with lightening reflexes Fred wandered to the far lock gates and without any thought for his own safety peered into the murky depths, summoned all years of boating knowledge and announced the gates were leaking. After much discussion I took on the herculean task of opening as many upriver gates as my Adonis like body would manage. Ten minutes and one sluice gate later the problem was solved.
When we came to leave the lock of doom the downriver gates didn't open very far due to some underwater obstruction (U boat?) which the EA are fixing very soon. With great skill we managed to wedge ourselves between the gates, stuck on our rubber rubbing thing, summoning the mighty horsepower available (48 a side) we popped out and chef was summoned to supply us with nourishment, we feasted on a cheese and tomato sandwich, no not tomato, he'd forgotten them and a cup of Earl Grey.
With more daring do we navigated our way to Allington lock where we had to wait for the mighty Medway to fill the river.
During our stay there we repaired the engine, talked to the very pleasant EA chaps who mentioned they were putting in new moorings and generally drank tea until departure time when all shore leave was cancelled.
We bravely set off into the tidal Medway under power from both the mighty engines and had an uneventful trip, perusing the delights of the Medway Chandler's wares. Also available were supplies from the Medway Garden centre and the Medway auto supplies, it really is the one stop shop.
Thanks to Fred for enjoying the trip with me and if you haven't been up the non tidal Medway, do go as the scenery is wonderful and the EA are trying hard to encourage more people to use it.
Fred will be posting pics of our epic trip once he's recovered from drinking the developing fluid.
