It is a fitting day to explore more marshes, under heavy grey skies and horizontal rain. A good test of my new wet weather gear. The “touch sensitive gloves” immediately fail to get my iPhone to respond. So much for the Amazon five star reviews. I dump the gloves in my backpack and, tapping away on the damp screen with only sporadic and begrudging responses, discover how difficult it is to take photos with freezing hands in the rain. Everything already looks a little fuzzy and the day has barely started.
Lower Halstow village gives my first sight of anyone else out in this foul weather. There are some interesting views but the camera is staying firmly in my pocket. The small dock is home to the Edith May racing barge (they race barges?) built in 1906. The village is apparently also famous as the Belgian WWI camp in Wonder Woman. It has an extensive library.
The wind and rain step up a gear as I head across the deserted and atmospheric Chetney Marshes, passing decaying wrecks in the wonderfully named Bedlams Bottom. On an impulse I decide to climb to the top of an embankment to feel the full force of the elements in my face, spreading my arms wide in a poor imitation of Tim Robbins as he emerged from the sewer pipe in The Shawshank Redemption. It feels liberating. Foolish, but liberating. No-one is around to see me anyway so why not?
I follow Milton Creek into Sittingbourne and discover where they hide all the recycling plants.
The sun makes a somewhat mocking and brief appearance right at the end of the walk. I retire to Donna’s Ale House, although I think the smart after-work drinkers are slightly aghast at the muddy backpacker who enters. The landlord is very chatty and friendly and the beer is excellent. Recommended.
Walk distance: 17 miles.
Total distance: 48 miles.
I was fortunate enough to watch the railway bridge being raised for a ship to pass through while I was enjoying a break and lunch. I loved this section of the way…so remote and nary a soul to be seen, and I didn’t notice any skeletons 🤪