Hello open boaters. Dimitris and I are planning a trip up and down the upper reaches of the River Stour in Kent on Saturday the 30th of August. If you are looking for a hard workout or adrenaline rush, this might not be for you. The plan is to start at the pub at Grove Ferry about five miles east of Canterbury and go upstream on the incomming tide as far as possible to Fordwich where we stop at another pub, wait for the tide to turn and float back to the pub where we started. This is the most picturesque stretch of the river, passing through the Stodmarsh nature reserve and Westbere marshes. Ornithologists should bring binoculars.The paddling is easy and the only hazards are the pubs and a bit of mud. We need to be at Grove Ferry at One o'clock to make best use of the tide. The return trip should take three hours if we are lazy and could be extended a bit on the ebb tide leg. I will tow the trailer which Mike has kindly agreed to lend us, so at the moment I recon we can take up to seven boats which equals fourteen boaters. If more want to come we will try to accommodate them if we can get more transport. If you are interested reply to this thread and we will take it from there. Please say if you have a car and can take some passengers.
Jon Eeles