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.