Estuary Paddle

[Mad Mike]

I could 'escape' for a day & so could Bloodline
so we decided to go for a paddle.

Weather & tides were just about perfect so off to the Medway estuary

At the Strand there is a hard slipway across the mud to the water
& free parking beware height restrictions TQ783694

We were paddling soon after 11:00 heading east then north
keeping out of the main channel.

It has been a long time since our last paddle so taking it easy
making sure we don't fall out. One good point id there was any problem
early on the water was only 3 feet deep or less, still didn't want to wade
back to shore in that mud

Paddled out to Darnett fort TQ806707
landed to the south next to the beached barges
time for lunch!

Cooked on an instant barbie - nice & light & bulk is OK in a canoe
while the Kettle boiled had a look around the island.
The only things to make a fire with was litter & the brambles patches
looked like they had dry stems inside

http://www.cig.canon-europe.com/ph/AIG/4nuDYKe3po0L1iXx0503ks3kskXL0003kskXLQ2o41IlN.jpg

At this stage we were drinking tea & munching a Salami
(Bardster this one was MUCH more spicy)
but very good sliced & cooked on the barbie
picture shows the bannock nearly done about to start the burgers

with that & another cuppa the tide was coming in

http://www.cig.canon-europe.com/ph/AIG/JkLgaYzCoJEolgYR7T03ks3kskXL0003kskXLQ2o41IlN.jpg

remember leave no trace we took out rubbish & more back with us

http://www.cig.canon-europe.com/ph/AIG/21shgwQnKrCq0cac1o03ks3kskXL0003kskXLQ2o41IlN.jpg

Bloodline told me it was a 5.8m tide. before we left, all the gravel was soon gone
& it was looking a long way back

http://www.cig.canon-europe.com/ph/AIG/3lvgaYzCoJEolgYR7T03ks3kskXL0003kskXLQ2o41IlN.jpg

that barge was towering over us when we arrived

We headed bask south on the slack water at high tide
& only 10-15 later I was walking around (OK paddling)
on Nor Marsh most of the plants are ankle deep in water at this point
(at best)

http://www.cig.canon-europe.com/ph/AIG/L7whgwQnKrCq0cac1o03ks3kskXL0003kskXLQ2o41IlN.jpg

Then it was paddling back we weaved through the submerged Copperhouse Marshes
then back up the shore to the strand

The promised back current as the tide started going out helping us on our way
It was easy to find the launch point again - next to the noisy funfair.

All in all much better to get out there & do something
I should have been painting the kitchen

Mike

Any problems with picture links try
http://www.cig.canon-europe.com/a?i=9KDXXdETLC

 

[KAE1]

Sounds like a nice day. Its great to finally get some pleasant weather, we will be kayaking the Stour on Saturday and canoeing it/picnicking Sunday.
Glad you had a good day.

 

[bloodline]

Just realised you have posted our day out Mike it was a cracking day and a good bit of exersise. Your extreme bannock baking in the face of a quickly rising tide was bannocking beyond the call of Bushcraft. I have just walked the Jacks down by the marsh its chucking it down with only a couple of 100 yards of visability with strong winds I think it will be quite nasty next high tide. Lets get padling again soon.
peter.