Sittingbourne-Conyer

When will we ever learn

Not certain if it is the effects of old age or stupidity but 4 of us met up in Sittingbourne ( the place that makes everywhere else look good) on a very hot and humid day to walk to Conyer and back
Without a cloud in the sky we set off through part of Sittingbourne into the industrial site choking on fumes from the many lorries rushing by. Finally we arrived at what was Sittingbournes football stadium but now literally going to the dogs . From here we took our lives in our hands and went to the side of Milton Creek, very important area in Tudor times but not now.
Although walking along side the creek at high tide the view and general feel was very industrial and run down . This did eventually open out into a more countryside area where we had an interesting sight of 2 men working at the top of the 132000 volt overhead power line, see photo below.
Being far too hot to hang around we carried along this path looking at the paper mill on the other bank and in the distance the newish bridge from the mainland to the Isle Of Sheppey
We watched the odd boat drift by but all we could do was dream of shade and a cold pint .
On then to Conyer Creek where we went inland and because of the weather and we decided we were all too old for this game and took the shortest route home only stopping briefly for a ice cream
Muston Churche, closed many years ago

Milton Creek

You can just see a man working at the top

Paper Mills

From Glory To This

Where Conyer Creek Meets River Swale

Tonge Church

Charing-Ashford

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

just to prove the song four of us met up at Charing on a very hot and humid day with a silly idea of walking to Ashford

Thinking we were in the legion we set off across country led by our intrepid leader using a well worn map . In true form it did not take us long to get lost but he soon had us back on our tracks passing the local abattoir , not that we stopped for a closer look.

Passing many fields full of wheat that look ready for cutting we eventually found a lovely wooded section that gave a short respite from the blazing sun . Then on to and across Hothfield common where we were greeted with a site unfamiliar to Kent of 16 highland cattle , at first sheltering from the sun but as we got nearer they wandered into a very close view .

After finally leaving the common we passed through the village of Hothfield but not before we called into the local village shop for a desperately needed ice cream .

Trying to ignore the heat, but not succeeding we trod on through the village of Chart , here it took a great deal of will power not to stop at the local pub.

After only a few hundred yards along the A28 we cut across country to Ashford and our final destination of he railway station. This was a short walk of only about 8 miles but due to the heat and the simple fact we are all getting too old it took us 5 hours

Pagan sign on tree at start of walk

Dead tree , maybe struck by lightning

Line of Copper Beech trees

Crops waiting to be cut

Highland cattle on Hothfield Common

Village sign

waterfall just outside Hothfield

Another tree maybe struck by lightning

Fishing lake just outside Ashford

Hythe Dymchurch

FIVE GO MAD ON THE ROMNEY MARSH

A nice sunny ,humid day at Hythe ,we decided,owing to the masses of schoolkids at the station,to walk to Dymchurch and train back.So,we set off along the Military canal,and started to receive complaints that the footpath on the other side looked much nicer.Nice and flat(obviously)and then up a ruddy great steep hill with a couple of castles on it(one roman, LEMANIS)We rounded the bend and were confronted with a pack of hyenas ,who did not find us amusing (well neither do we)The roman castle(see pix)was made of the usual ragstone/tile mix.Along the top of the hill among the Griraffes,Zebra,etc .An attempt to scare kids on the other side of the hedge with ape-calls failed miserably.Back down the hill to the flat lands and across the fileds ,where we stumbled upon an old Royal Observer Corps bunker from the cold war.Into Dymchurch and sensors set to max,we found a pub with London Pride bitter,so someone was happy.We all had a bag of chips freshly cooked, a walk on the beach ,and then walked the 10 minutes to the station,where the diesel hauled train took us back to Hythe for £4.70 ish.

Bedgebury

Bedgebury 10th July 2008

We drove to Bedgebury Pinetum where we watched our leader virtually cry as he emptied his penny jar to pay the ridiculous car parking charge of £7:50 . We knew at this point we were in for a days entertainment as he was sure to carry out his Victor Meldew impression of a grumpy OAP
Apart from this blot on the landscape the weather showed a lot of promise so the 6 of us entered the Pinetum with no definite plan other than to wander along some of the various tracks, enjoy the British country side, put the world to rights and appreciate the quietness without women.
Stating at the visitors centre we then followed one of the tracks that took us pass a couple of small lakes but still interesting especially with the plant life beginning to blossom .
There is not much more that can be said to describe a pleasant walk of about 8 miles , but we did get a glance of one deer and one toad that brightened the walk . Near the end we came across a long abandoned saw mill where someone had made good use of it by installing a number of bat boxes , In all , apart from the car parking charge, a good walk

Greenwich-Tower Bridge

Greenwich to London Bridge 2nd July 2008

Due to a weather forecast of heavy rain 5 of us decided rather than walk the country side we would catch a train to Greenwich and then catch the very good boat service the " Thames Clippers " and have a look at Tower Bridge in London.
When we left Greenwich the sky was very black and foreboding although this did not distract from another very interesting trip on the river Thames .
Embarking at Tower Bridge we proceeded to do the touristy bit and paid to have a look over the bridge especially going over the high level walkway.
Luck was on our side and the bridge had to be raised to let a sailing barge go upstream and we watched this all happen from the high level walkway. Then a visit to the "Engine Room" was called for and well worth a look if you are in the area
The weather did not improve so back on board the Thames Clipper and on to the Embankment. Here we had a another stop and a wander ashore in search of food.
Not much fun in the rain so back on the clipper again for the return to Greenwich . Before we caught the train home we tried to get some education with a trip around Greenwich Maritime Museum, another must place to visit. Then joining the commuters on to the train home
Greenwich from the River

Leaving Greenwich

Tower Of London

View East From Top Of Tower Bridge

Engine Room Tower Bridge