Wandering Discoveries
From the library - The River Medway Estuary - Sunrise
I was very lucky to live on a converted commercial “Dutch” barge, for nine years. My houseboat was moored facing East, on the River Medway, a tidal river. On the opposite bank are the Medway Towns and the former Royal Navy base, Chatham. Which was active during WW2.
The River Medway Estuary merges with the River Thames Estuary and then joins the North Sea.
The photograph above shows the pier, railway and coal crane which used to empty coal barges for the coal powered (decommissioned) power station. Just up the river are also a couple of nuclear power stations that have also been decommissioned.
I have been lucky to see numerous sunrises and different palettes of colours that Mother Nature has provided. The storm that followed, was equally spectacular.
The sun rays being filtered by a cloud bank, the island on the right side of the photograph is Hoo Fort Island. Which was to protect the shipping lanes. Historically there was also a a chain from the Island to Gillingham. That was retracted to allow galleons through.
An easterly storm blows in from Europe, this particular storm of winter weather was nicknamed in the UK as the “beast from the East”. Snowfall, severe cold conditions, ice etc, etc.
Contrails, sunrise and reflections!
Just beyond Hoo Fort Island is a second Island which also has a fort.
A few centuries ago on a Sunday morning, whilst all the Navy personnel including those from the forts (etc) were attending Churches. The Dutch Navy sailed up the Medway, sinking a lot of the moored fleet, setting Galleons alight, helping themselves to some ships and sailing out again before our Navy could respond! Not the Navy’s finest hour!
The blue hour gives way to dawn.
Foxgloves with the full moon.
A foggy morning on the Medway, looking across the marina’s lower basin.
Sunrise on a snowy morning.
Some sunrises left me speechless!
All the photographs are straight from my iPhones (via the library). No filters, or photoshop or editing. The photographs show what I witnessed on those mornings.
Thank you for all your support, for your messages and responses, your hearts and restacks. It’s really appreciated. 🙏
@Rebecca Lötscher your restacks are greatly appreciated. 🙏
@Rea de Miranda Many thanks for restacking my latest post. 🙏