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Spring Walk June 2021 Rochester,
10/6/2021 - 14/6/2021
Thursday 10th June.
Travel day.We had arranged to meet in a Costa Coffee next to the Travelodge as we could not check in until after 15:00, except for Pete, Andy and Ben ( Andy and Ben were travelling down Friday
Morning). Once all had arrived we got the train to Rainham where we stopped at The Railway Inn (a Wetherspoons) for lunch and refreshments before walking back to Gillingham station to get the train back to Rochester. Pete joined us here for lunch but did not walk with us as he had his bags with him. Those present were Ralph, Dick, Paul, Dave, Ian, Graham, Steve, Pat, John Wooton, Mick and John Stopani.
We walked to Lower Rainham then joined the Saxon Shore Way to walk along the Medway back towards Rochester to Gillingham station. Walking in two groups one took a more direct route to the river whilst the other took a more circuitous route but ended up in the right place (Dick's fault wrong glasses after lunch). Along the way we saw several types of birds, a seal and the original Jubilee Clip factory. The clouds had lifted by the time we walked so it was fine sunny and hot.
Once we got back to Rochester we checked into the hotel, right by the station, getting washed and changed before heading out for dinner. We ate at The Golden Lion (another Wetherspoons) not very good; slow service probably the worst one we have ever visited. We then moved on to the Two Brewers a Shepherd Neame house good beer and service for after dinner drinks then retiring for the day.
Friday 11th June.
Unplanned early morning call 06:45, some kind person set the fire alarm off on their way out. Ben and
Andy joined us first thing and after breakfast we caught the train to Aylesford to walk along the Medway Valley Walk. All walked apart from Pete who was going to join us at lunch time but the bus broke down so we did not see him until later. The walk from Aylesford station to Wouldham was mostly on roads and concrete paths and very hard on the feet. We stopped for lunch at The Waterman's Arms, they did not have any ales on as they said they could not sell it and were throwing it away, we said we could have drunk a barrel as it had been a hot morning's walking, we had to make do with fizzy beer and lager!!
After lunch Dick, Pat, Steve and John Stopani walked around by the river the rest went up to The North Downs Way to walk back to Rochester.
During the walk back Pat started to suffer, having difficulty keeping going when we got back to the outskirts of Rochester. He and Steve got a taxi back to the hotel whilst Dick and John carried on, walking meeting the rest in The Eagle Tavern to replenish some of the liquid lost during the day's walking. Though it had started cloudy in the morning it was still warm and got hotter as the day wore on, then the cloud cleared but at least it stayed fine.
After a wash and brush up we went out for dinner in various groups. Pat was a new man after a rest joining the others for the evening. Once we had eaten we went to the Coopers Inn for an after dinner drink before returning to the hotel for the night. On the way back we passed Ye Arrow a pub that had no respect for covid restrictions tables and people close together people singing seemed more like Ibiza than England all other places we had been to had respected the covid restrictions.
Saturday 12th June.
No early alarm call this morning. We woke up to a bright, sunny and hot morning which carried on throughout the day getting even hotter later. After breakfast all but Pete and Dick got the train to Strood to pick up the Saxon Shore Way to walk to Hoo St Werburgh and back to Strood before returning to the hotel. The outward leg went on the lower path which took in some beach walking.
Refreshments were taken outside the Riverside Diner in Hoo St Werburgh Marina, ironically watching some Openreach engineers working on an adjacent BT pole. All except Pat, who went back on the lower path, took the higher inland path back to Lower Upnor. Here, Pat stopped at the Ship but all then went to the Kings Arms in Upper Upnor. A splendid free house with good beer and food with a large shaded garden, much appreciated with the temperature rising. Paul, Graham, Dave and Ian left to try the Tudor Rose down the road, a Shepherd Neame pub. Again a good pub but more emphasis on food. Meanwhile things got a bit livelier in the Kings Arms when a hen party arrived! All eventually made it safely back.
Dick stayed in Rochester (puncture, blister from the previous day) looking at the castle and cathedral as well as a general walk around. Pete went to Chatham, visiting the naval museum.
After we had washed and changed, dinner was taken in various groups before meeting in the Man of Kent, good beer and pub.
Sunday 13th June.
We woke to another fine and sunny day which again got hotter as the day went on. The walk was from Cuxton to Halling via the North Downs Way. To get to Cuxton we got the train to Strood to change lines but they were doing engineering works so a bus replacement service was in place. All were walking today Pete and Dick walked straight up the road after getting off the bus to meet the North Downs Way, the others were going into Cuxton to pick up a path by the railway line to enable them to join the North Downs Way earlier but the path was blocked so ended up going the same way as Dick and Pete. It was a pleasant walk going through patches of woodland which helped to keep the temperature down, most welcome on a hot day. There had been some ups and downs on the route but the descent through Scrub Wood was very steep. Pat slipped and fell getting quite a bruise on his arm, not his weekend. At Halling we stopped at the Five Bells for refreshment a very welcoming and friendly pub. Some decided to stay there and watch England's first game of Euro 2020 others went back to the hotel to watch it there. Pat was looking for a new phone later, one that was suitable for the hard of seeing as later in the day hand /eye co-ordination went awry.
Again various options were taken for food in the evening and after dinner drinks were taken at the Man of Kent or the Coopers. All returned back to the hotel where we had a toast to absent friends before retiring.
Monday 14th June.
We woke up to another hot day. After breakfast and a wander around Rochester it was time to go home. It had been a great weekend, nice to meet up with other people, after so long being tied down by covid restrictions but doing so in a safe manner.
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