Midlifekayak

Why are the boys not making much progress I can hear some if you ask. Ok, so the low pressure system sitting over the Irish Sea is spinning anti clockwise (as they do) and sending a strong southerly wind straight at us. It is meant to be moving eastwards but only slowly. This is making an attempt to cross the estuary over to Margate challenging if not a little foolhardy.

So this morning, after a pleasant enough night by the side of a beach hut, we popped down to the Thames MRCC (Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre) for some advice. There we met Amy, Piers and Matt. What a really helpful and friendly team. We soon forgot what we came in for and were getting a guided tour of their control room and the systems they use. Geoff “I used to be a firefighter” Cater was straight in there asking all the knowledgeable questions while I enjoyed a welcome cuppa.

Piers, who is also a local sailor, helped us plot an alternative route through some of the sand banks, avoiding Shoebury Ness military range, and one that should help us exploit the tides as well.

It will take us a couple of days to get to Margate but at least we’ll be moving again and we’ll see some parts of the estuary not many see, including the resting place of Charles Darwin’s ship HMS Beagle and some old smugglers haunts. The stuff of Charles Dickens.

Will let you know how we get on!

In the meantime, still more eating to be done to keep up spirits and energy levels 🙂

Thanks to the Thames MRCC for all their help!!