And we're off

Today I'm off for a short jaunt over to Guernsey. I'm going with Saga but it has been taken on by their sister company, Titan.

There are 13 of us and most are in their 80s ranging from wheelchair bound to, well let's say frail.

I'm probably the youngest by far. 

The person in charge and acting as our guide is also in her late 70s. I think this might be a bit too slow for me but we'll see what unfolds.

To be honest I've come for one outing more than any other and that's over to Sark.

The journey to the airport was easy until we reached the junction 9 turn off. 

Grid lock. 

A combination of a broken down van on the slip road and the rail strike; the queues were lengthy and slow.

We finally reached the traffic lights at the top of the off ramp only to be sent back down again onto the motorway. 

To cut a long story short we eventually reached a drop off point and leaping out the car I high tailed it up the ramp to Departures.

From then on it was easy. The flight was less than an hour, I managed to get some tea on board and we cruised at 15 000 feet so little ear popping.

The plane was one of those small ones, twin props with no more than 50 seats.

Guernsey airport is sweet and easy to navigate and before I realised, we were at the Best Western hotel.

I've been out walking and wandered up to the other end of the bay.

I've found important things like food stops, tea wagons and the harbour walks and ate at one of the small independent places along the coast. 

We are to meet up at 6.30pm to discuss the itinerary and then have dinner. 

Jury is out atm but let's see. Oh yes, Guernsey maybe part of UK but it's deemed abroad by EE so no internet. Oh well.

Time is looming for a short break

Time has slowly rolled round and this coming Saturday sees me taking the plane this time, to Guernsey for a week.

When I come back it'll only be 5 weeks until my repeat voyage, cruising down to Cape Verde and back.

House is ready for the house sitter, packing my case tomorrow and being collected at 9am for a Gatwick flight at 11:55am on Saturday.

Be good to get away after what seems such a very long time.

A wander along the Medway

Parking the car, as usual, in Allington, I walked down toward the locks where fresh and tidal are separated by active gates

It's an area of great activity with boats coming and going, stopping either at open moorings by the lock or pulling up by the Lock Café situated in the central grassy section of the lock complex itself. Open most days, I can recommend the teas, coffees and speciality teas on offer. They also do snacks. I think in winter they do hot stuff too but not sure about that.

Crossing the high bridge I looked downstream.

The towpath continues to Aylesford and it should be a lovely walk. Unfortunately, last winter saw bank collapse taking a section of towpath with it. Now, to continue, one has to cross a very busy dual carriageway with cars just off the M20; they take few prisoners. 

Passing the large boat yard many moorings are permanent with extra large 'cargo' vessels which once carried grain, cattle and coal around our shores and waterways nestle against small gardens and deep pilings driven deep into the mud.

One ex cargo boat is fully restored and makes a home which is much larger than a four bedroom apartment! Its massive and took more than a blink of the eye to walk past. The rigging, mast, anchor and running gear look as though it docked only hours before.

Fabulous. 

Like many rivers there has to be a castle tucked away somewhere. This one is Allington Castle, medieval in age and privately owned. It's used for functions, weddings etc and I suspect available for film backdrops; the images on the net are beautiful.

Some people seem to opt for the good life both ways with a small house plus their own moorings and boat. Nice way to do it if you can.

The path continues and takes you between what look like water meadows to your left and the river to your right. Some alleyways run up to villages which offer future exploration. 

All too quickly,the peace gave way to traffic noise, people shouting in the football stadium and building construction. 

Litter replaced blackberries and the noise of a growing development replaced the ducks.

To this point, the walk had been glorious but approaching the town itself made me realise just how much continuous noise we coped with each day.

I created the pink line.