Ebbing tide on Faversham Creek

I just love the many Kent creeks that flow northwards towards the Swale and Thames. This is Faversham which joins Oare Creek just before entering the Swale which is a channel between mainland Kent and the Isle of Sheppey.

Other creeks include Sittingbourne, Conyer and Darenth and I suppose the Medway although that's not a small inlet like the others. At low tide they're muddy expanses with a tiny stream at the bottom, at high tide they're deep and navigable.

One hundred and fifty years ago all the creeks were hived of activity as Thames barges plied their trade between Kent and London and Essex carrying all manner of goods including Kentish bricks. Like the Dutch barges they were flat bottomed allowing them to sit on the mudflats when the tide went out.

That trade died out in the early part of the 20thC, leaving the once thriving ports in decline with only leisure craft now making use of the waterway. Many an old barge has found its last resting place on the mudflats and many other old boats too, yet on the banks of Faversham Creek and Oare Creek there are busy boatyards stuffed full of boats in all states of disrepair, some house boats and many yachts make places like Standard Quay (extra) and Iron Wharf both at Faversham fascinating places to visit. Both have featured in blip before as have the other creeks. I think this might qualify for Derelict Sunday hosted by Marlieske. Thank you for hosting.

A fine, sunny afternoon with a stiff nor' easterly accompanied us on our walk along the side of Faversham Creek out to and along the Swale, meeting only a few other people. The Kent marshes hereabouts are a very special, a place of splendid isolation.

The morning was spent attending to Doreen who made an early call for help. After that we carried out some investigations into care home provision. We found quite a few that merit further investigation but we fear it's not going to be possible to visit any homes to get a feel for them as places. Their blurb and reviews sound good as do their inspection reports. How can you make any sort of decision without a visit?