A view across the Swale Estuary, twice!

[Bogof]

Just a quick 63 miles today, with No 2 son on pillion.

The idea was to visit a place called Harty Ferry, which interestingly exists both sides of the Swale Estuary. So we decided that we should take photographs from the South shore looking north, and from the north looking south.

Map Here

Less than 3 miles from home and we reach Harty Ferry south shore, which is a part of the Oare Marshes nature reserve. So the area is full of twitchers. Or twitterers. Or just twits maybe

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020314.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020315.jpg

The view across the Swale towards the Inn that we will visit a little later.

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020317.jpg

J decides to try a quick paddle. I point out that if he gets his boots covered in stinky smelly mud, he isn't likely to get back on my nice shiny bike and could well face a 2.9 mile walk back home. J decides not to try a quick paddle. http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020319.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020321.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020322.jpg

Local rumours tell the tale of how this "road" used to extend straight across the estuary. Nobody can quite explain exactly how this remarkable feat was ever managed given that the estuary is 100ft or so deep in the centre, but maybe that explains why it's just a rumour!

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020323.jpg

And so on to Sheppey. Now I've not been to Sheppey for erm... many years. With good reason. It's not a nice place. It's flat. It's depressing. And it's full of sheep. Still, at least we get to try out the new bridge...

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020324.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020325.jpg

As we near the bridge there is a sign that says "Warning. Cross winds on bridge." I wonder who annoyed them? And why doesn't someone do something to calm them down a bit. They just need to chill.

And so eventually we arrive at The Ferry House Inn, on the north shore of the Swale Estuary.

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020329.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020328.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020330.jpg

Approaching the shoreline

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020332.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020334.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020335.jpg

I could be wrong, but I really don't think the ferry will be running this week...

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020336.jpg

J again threatened to paddle. I reminded him that we had now travelled a far greater distance. He thought a while. A very short while. He paddled not.

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020337.jpg

View south across to where we started earlier today

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020335.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020342.jpg

The obligatory bike shot...

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020344.jpg

Came across this on the way back, and yes we did view a raptor

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020345.jpg

Finally, no visit to Sheppey would be complete without a visit to one of its most notorious establishments

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Bogof-pics/Harty%20Ferry%20130909/P1020347.jpg

Further trips are already being planned. Further ride reports are a possibility too

Look out for the forthcoming trip to Southend to view Herne Bay across an expanse of water (probably the best way to view Herne Bay) and the Dover to view France trip (and that's about as close as I intend to get to France)