Yes, we did, but first…

Having had an enforced stay in the depths of lovely Wiltshire on ‘mother watch’ while kid sister was away swanning around the Ionian Sea, sailing, it was good to get back to the marshlands of the Thames estuary.

While I was in Wiltshire, I ‘retrieved’ May Flower’s cabin lamp from my mother’s flat (being sold: sadly she suffered badly during Covid-19 lock-down with what is being called Covid Syndrome and has gone into a lovely care home…). I am currently cleaning and servicing it. It will be presented to a barge trust…

I enjoyed a couple of sails alone in glorious late summer weather, on the cusp of autumn. Instead of heading in one of my favourite directions, up Hadleigh ray and Benfleet Creek, I spent time in the wider yonder.

I have only once gone beyond the Old Salvation Army Wharf since the threat to burn Whimbrel was made by a member of the Benfleet Yacht Club and the subsequent verbal assault experienced over on the River Medway: I have no wish to meet the character again out on the open water.

I was advised by the police to ‘carry on as normal…’ Easy said. The saga remains an Essex Police Matter, so I’ll say no more. However, I miss seeing the colours of autumn coming as those special changes take place along the edges of the salt marshes.

I’ll get back to it.

Whilst out on one of the two sails, I stood by to check if three youngish chaps were alright after their vessel suffered a mast breakage. It was surreal: the mast just tumbled before my eyes.

There were a number of craft closer than myself, but NOT ONE went over to ask if people were okay. I found that very sad, disturbing almost.

Most likely, they weren’t looking around…

The boat was quickly sorted out and after I’d asked if there propulsion was working and prop clear, I left them to it … watching as they motored towards Leigh-on-Sea.

A Cardinal Rule Afloat- you check anyone seen to be in some sort of trouble. Last time, it cost me most of my best 3-ply nylon warps, which still have not been returned by another Benfleet Yacht Club member. That episode was over three months ago now!

So, there appeared on the forecast a weather window, lasting for several days. On Sunday (just gone) I had agreed to visit the Blackwater Sailing Club to meet a chap who had purchased a Finesse 21 which had lain unused for around three seasons. Some advice was needed. That done we readied ourselves for an early start on the Monday morning…

The forecast was good, but a ridge of cloud at the edge of a high pressure was slow moving. It was grey and not entirely inviting, but there were no murmurs of discontent from either of us. It was dry!

We cleared our moorings a little over two hours before highwater and were soon bustling past Canvey Point, River Medway bound.

Tides being neaps, we glided over those last two hours of slack flood as it made its way westwards. We entered the River Medway, passing inside Grain Fort, and on into Queenborough before the turn of the tide. Our passage from moored to moored was barely 2 1/4 hours. In the ‘light-ish’ conditions, we were both pleased with that. It was nice to get a run over, rather than being hard on the wind.

The passage was so serene, I was able to facetime my mother in her care home. She thoroughly enjoyed sailing along with us as we passed Grain Fort. ‘Never been inside that…’ she piped up.

‘You have now,’ I said, laughing!

It was chilly, so soup appeared for lunch and having tidied we rowed ashore to pay our mooring fee and ‘chat the staff up’…

The sun had come out properly as we entered the river too, lighting it up nicely.

Ashore, the first thing we saw was that the Bosun’s store is about to reopen … as a gift/tea shop, as reported widely elsewhere. But, so pleased the old name is being retained.

We set off round the old harbour, passing displays of floral colour. The town really does put on a good show. The harbour was tranquil with the ebbing tide providing a mirror for many reflections.

Our path took us along an old track leading to an old works wharf where the glue factory once polluted the air hereabouts and walked along the seawall top looking alternately out over the drying expanse of food rich mud flats and the growing mass of new housing, inland.

We walked over the bottoms of several spritsail barges. Christobel remembered seeing bits of them on a previous walk, but commented that one in particular was more obvious. Bottom boards and floors in forefront of above picture.

The path took us onto what was the rail line to the Coal Wharf – now derelict round towards Long Point. Frome that a path takes one up onto Rushenden Hill, behind the screen of trees seen from the water.

From the hill, glorious views can be enjoyed towards Kingsferry Bridge and over the marshes beyond the West Swale to Bedlams Bottom and the foot of Stangate Creek. We were not dissapointed!

It was time to wend our way ‘homewards’ – via the Costa Coffee house at the shopping centre, then back along the inland part of Queenborough Creek which is a nature reserve, to the harbour…

An enjoyable two hours.

The sunset came as I finished producing a mild chicken curry dish finished with fresh yogurt, both were spectacular!

Morning came and I was woken by the patter of rain. It didn’t last long, but it was a misty, damp and grey start to the day. The greyness stayed until we were sailing up the Ray Channel in a light breeze.

Christobel took the boat out towards Grain Fort, handing over to get breakfast underway.

Rashers of just crisped bacon slipped into a roll with lashings of ketchup. The end result was yummy indeed!

The sun made several attempt to break through, finally it did and blue expanses spread out around us. The light lit the golden autumnal hue of the saltings. Away on the Leigh Marshes, brent geese called noisily. An occasional tern was heard: most have more than likely gone. Craft wise, the water was quiet, just us, returning home…

Yes, we enjoyed a splendid twenty-four hours, indeed, we did so…