The first trip of the 1999 season

by Martin Longhurst

Saturday 24 April 1999 saw KC's first outing of the year. This was a cruise from Strood to view shipping in the Thames Estuary. KC had left her base at Chatham Dockyard at about 10.30 to be at Strood in plenty of time for her scheduled departure at 11.00.
KC slowly eases into the berth at Strood Pier
  The crew secure the gangway prior to boarding the 51 passengers
  The sad sight of Paddle Tug John H. Amos (left) on a slipway at Chatham Dockyard
Under a fine drizzle KC passed the ro-ro freight ferry Egaltine at the linkspan at Sheerness, which stands at the mouth of the Medway and marks the passage into the Thames Estuary.
Conditions improved as we sailed further out into the Estuary to view the forlorn masts of the wartime casulaty Richard H. Montgomery  
Passengers on board
Captain Megoran took the paddler close by Southend Pier on the northern side of the Estuary  
Returning to the River Medway we passed the Ever Reward outbound from Thamesport  
   
PowerGen's collier Lord Hinton moored at Oakham Ness Jetty  
One for Jeremy! Kingsnorth Power Station
Sister ship Sir Charles Parsons alongside the Power Station Jetty  
The cruise over and passengers disembarked, KC leaves Strood Pier to head home to Thunderbolt Pier  
   
   
   
  See you next time!

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