Category Archives: Kent

The Coastal Path Goes Flying – Part IV

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Wingclipped

North we flew, back over the Medway, away from Rochester and towards Cliffe.  When we had passed Cliffe Fort two years ago it was sealed off and appeared flooded inside.  We could have crawled through a window, but decided not … Continue reading →

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The Coastal Path Goes Flying – Part III

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Wingclipped

Once our microlight had taken off we flew up to 2,250 feet.  Having walked the entire Kent coastline, I was looking forward to seeing some of it from the sky.  Almost immediately we flew over something I had not seen … Continue reading →

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The Coastal Path Goes Flying – Part II

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Wingclipped

One of the things I liked about our first microlight flight was that we got in the air relatively quickly.  The initial briefing lasted a few minutes and no more (only slightly longer than it took to sign the waiver). … Continue reading →

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The Coastal Path Goes Flying – Part I

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Wingclipped

Whilst we were back in Grain we decided to head down to Middle Stoke and have a bit of an adventure at Medway Microlights. To put matters quite simply, I love the sky.  I love the freedom of it.  I … Continue reading →

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Serendipity

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Wingclipped

As we walked out of Grain something caught my eye.  I stood and stared as a pair of eyes stared back at me.  I craned my head forward and squinted.  Was it?  It couldn’t be?  But it was! Two years … Continue reading →

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Return to Grain Tower Part VI – A Last Look Back

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Wingclipped

As we left Grain Tower I took one last look back. I would like to come back here some day, go to the tower and wait for the tide to come in.  I think that to stay there, totally cut … Continue reading →

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Return to Grain Tower Part V – The Chain

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Wingclipped

In 1914 it was decided to erect a massive floating boom across the mouth of the River Medway.  The intention was to keep enemy ships out of the river and all that it held (including the important Chatham dockyard).  This … Continue reading →

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Return to Grain Tower Part IV – The Accommodation Block

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Wingclipped

The three/four storey accommodation block was added to Grain Tower in World War Two.  It is about as different from the original structure as you can get, for it is rectangular and not round. It stands on concrete stilts which … Continue reading →

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Return to Grain Tower Part III – The Guns and Observation Tower

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Wingclipped

During World War Two a four-storey observation tower was built on the original 1855 tower.  The two quick-firing guns on the original roof were replaced with six-pounders.  There is more than one way to get up to this roof, but … Continue reading →

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Return to Grain Tower Part II – Inside the Original Tower

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Wingclipped

They don’t make Towers like this one any more.  Although it was built in 1855, some parts of it feel almost medieval. The main entrance is at first floor level, through a simple doorway.  See the steps to the side?  … Continue reading →

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