Early June 2018 – Chatham and Ramsgate

We arrived in Chatham on the 7th June after 50 miles from the Tower of London.  We left the lock at 07:30 and arrived 16:00, details in last entry.

8th June – Friday

Just a jobs day.  Mick was running the engine so I walked to the nearby outlet.  Then we both walked to the nearest Asda for Diesel, aprox 30 minutes each way.

We had drinks with Liz and John as they were leaving the following day.  We may meet in Holland later in the year, hopefully.

9th June – Saturday

The marina was holding a breakfast get together on the pontoon, with coffee and pastries, which we had been invited to.  The local Border Force ship ‘Hunter’ was in port and their crew were holding an open day. 

What a fascinating hour we spent with them.  The crew member we spoke to, Ben, was from St Annes, near home.  They spend 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.  They live in a crew house together and are called out for all sorts of reasons at any time.  The technology on display was first class.

Later on we walked into Chatham town centre, which has a modern High Street and Shopping Centre.

We stumbled upon Old Brook Pumping Station and its band of volunteers, located behind Halfords.

They were very welcoming and started up the 50 Hp, Single Cylinder Diesel Pumping Engine which had been used for pumping Sewage!! 

The volunteers plus one.

There were lots of other exhibits including detailed models of Mills and Windmills and a working printing press.  The whole display was a credit to them.  Thanks Gents.

11th June 2018 – Chatham Historic Dockyard

The dockyards were the reason for this visit to Chatham.  It’s not a place you pass on the way to somewhere, you really have to make the effort.  It is £24 each to enter and £3.50 for a guide book, and the ticket lasts for 12 months.  We went in when the doors opened at 10:00 and left as they closed.  It is the 400 year anniversary of the dockyard this year.

You enter through the Mast Houses and Mould Loft which we decided to leave to the end.  During the week there are tours and demos in the Rope Walk and the Submarine, entry times for these are booked on arrival.  We spent the first hour in the Steam Shed and then looked around HMS Gallant.

HMS Gannet built here and launched in 1878, dwarfed by the 3rd Covered Slip behind. 

HMS Cavalier launched in 1944 is a CA-class Destroyer.

Mick at the helm, in a small room, which was locked whilst at sea and there are no windows.

The ship is directed using Port and Starboard buttons from this chair and the helm is moved accordingly in the room below, no distractions I suppose.  But it would take an iron stomach to helm in that closed room.

The Ropery or Rope Walk is the most famous part of the dockyards and was established in 1618.   It is still used by a private company to make rope.  All the latest films, Bond, Pirates etc all had their rope made here.  HMS Victory required 31 miles of rope.

The rope twisting machine is at one end.

The rope walk is a quarter of a mile long.

Rope makers ride the rope making pulley at some speed to the end of the building.

Then they ride back to enable the rope to be curled into a spool.

HMS Ocelot launched in 1962 is the last submarine made at Chatham.  She is an O-Class diesel-electric submarine, in service until 1991.  We had an excellent tour guide whilst on board.

Inside the 3rd Covered Slip built in 1838, it was Europe’s largest wide-span timber structure.  The roof of the first third is made of wood, a beautiful intricate pattern, the rest is iron and steel.

It is difficult to give an impression of how big this building is.  These boats look like toys.  There is a display of full sized life boats inside too.

There were two other display buildings, so by the time we arrived back at the first building we had about an hour to go.  The Mould Loft was where the ship designs were laid out and the precise measurements were taken to enable the carpenters to prepare the correct sized pieces of timber for the next ship.  A projected image of a boy and his grandfather, leads you through the building, as the boy decides whether to join the Navy or work at the dockyards.

Sailors Info – Chatham Marina

Great facilities near the outlet village.  Not the cheapest at about £35 per night but we stayed for 8 nights so one night was free.  Chatham Marina has the best Washers and Dryers.  £2.50 for a wash and £1.50 for a dry.  Outlet – 30 shops plus numerous restaurants.  Co-op near the outlet.  Asda was a 30 minute walk, Aldi in Gillingham was a 40 minute walk.  Wifi was OK.

The height variation in the lock was just less than 3 metres as we left…. Going Down.

15th June – To Ramsgate

A 10.00am start for the 46 miles to Ramsgate, we arrived at 19.15.  It was a very warm day, with a constant wind and quite wallowy.  We followed the Medway to the Thames and into the Princes Channel going South between the sandbanks.

Red Sands gun emplacements at the mouth of the Thames near the London Array of 37 windmills.

Fish and Chips on arrival as a reward for a long day.

We stayed in Ramsgate for four nights.  We have been before so we just pottered around.

Found the Saltworks shop in a back street courtyard.  The nicest shop I have been in for a long time.  Perfectly arranged.

And the Petticoat Lane Emporium, which houses many small stall holders in the old Skating Rink.

Wetherspoon’s have done a great job of the restoration of the Queens Royal Pavilion on the Sea Front where a Fathers Day pint was enjoyed.

Next Stop – Gravelines, France – Between Calais and Dunkirk