Day 181: Whitstable to Teynham

Best bits: stealing strawberries!!

Worst bits: train delays

Distance: 18.2 miles

Tomorrow is my half way point!!!! Check out and share my social media posts and if you haven’t already please donate. We are now at £30,000 yippee but my target is £100,000 so still a way to go.

We were all set for a reasonably early start, but we didn’t get off to plan due to a number of messages I had to respond to. When we woke this morning, it was very hazy and you could hardly see in front of you, but as the morning progressed it warmed up and the sky turned blue. Just before we got to the beach, we walked down the cutest little roads and backstreets.

Today we had to walk along the estuary, the tide was out and there were extensive mudflats and the sea was so far out in the distance. We were initially walking on shingle, but then that quickly turned into a concrete promenade which is a little better for the feet.

The groynes on the beach here are holding back the shingle. This could be a metaphor for holding back emotions.

As we turned around to say goodbye to Whitstable, it was still concealed in the mist so no photo. However, we did see a rather jauntily decorated beach hut.

I tried taking some arty shots of the large spiders webs which adorned the steps onto the beach. This was the best I could manage.

We followed the sign posts for the England coast path which took us alongside a caravan park and a little waterway. Suddenly we came to a dead end with the railway line and marshland. It was time to reverse our steps.

Zoe and I had a little chat about what ‘home’ means to us and whether you feel your deceased loved one’s presence.

Before I started my trek, I had been to pottery class using the wheel like on the great pottery throwdown. I’ll need to be mindful of when I’m sitting at the potters wheel in future incase Angela’s spirit comes to me.

We stopped at forgetmenots cafe for an impromptu cuppa and a toilet stop. It was lovely sitting out in the sunshine.

This time we were back out on the road and then across fields. We came across a huge solar farm, providing power for the National Grid. The question is are they static or do they tilt with the position of the sun?

We went slightly off track and ended up in a field full of poly tunnels containing strawberry plants. There was the occasional red strawberry shouting ‘eat me, eat me’. I picked one and then convinced Zoe to steal one too. They were absolutely scrumptious.

As we came round the estuary, the tide was out and was full of mud with lots of boats stranded. We came across a boat yard and talked with three blokes who were shocked at the distance that I have travelled saying ‘**in Hell that’s a long way’

We lunched in the Secret Garden cafe just outside Faversham Harbour which was in a street with local and traditional arts and crafts. We had some gorgeous fresh orange juice there.

Just after this there was a beautiful old mill that has been converted into a restaurant.

The building that the Faversham Sea Cadets occupy is a 15th century timber framed building, formerly a town warehouse. Zoe kindly moved the wheelie bins out of the way so I could get the shot. I have left her in this version!

Whoever planned the England Coast Path had us zigzagging in and out all over the place today. After weaving in and out of small streets eventually we were back out onto the path. Not before admiring is lovely tree in someone’s garden decorated for Easter.

The tide started to come in quite rapidly covering the mud and floating the stranded boats and setting them free again.

As you will know I find F-estuaries very tedious. We walked a long way around the edge of the estuary and in and out of several creeks. The scenery looked pretty much the same the whole afternoon.

We did pass some wildlife geese, swans, ducks, curlews and other birds neither of us knew. We also had to negotiate a flock of sheep, mothers with lambs and lots of fresh poo on the path.

Our original plan was to walk to Sittingbourne station but we decided instead to drop down to Teynham. My phone had been pinging all day with messages and I had also received a few calls. So it had already felt like a long day.

The vision in my head when I think of orchards is very different from these! They are the fruit equivalent of battery hens.

When we arrived at the station it became apparent that the trains were in complete chaos due to a signalling problem earlier. We had to wait around an hour at Teynham and then could only get as far as Faversham. Another long wait there! It was a hot day and tempers were rising.