Oare Creek

Oare Creek is one of many such creeks that flow north into the Swale which separates mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey. The Swale itself was once a creek, many many hundreds of years ago.

These creeks are almost empty at low tide so are only navigable when the tide is full. Nevertheless, every creek has its full quota of boats in various states of disrepair, dereliction and nicely turned out.

We did the two creeks walk from Faversham which is part of the Saxon Shore Way, out along Oare Creek back along Faversham Creek. A very fine walk, lovely and breezy with a couple of excellent craft beers in Faversham to end the walk.

We were fortunate to a) get to Faversham and b) find somewhere to park. The town was gridlocked. It was only by good chance and navigating the back streets that we came to the Recreation Car Park without getting ensnared in the traffic. Even better the car park was free for 4 hours too.

Faversham was just like the rest of Kent. Gridlocked. I know there are other ways out of the country to the continent but more and more Kent feels like the large intestine and colon of the country.

Today, on the busiest weekend of the year the Lent Resilience Forum (ha!) decided to shut the M20 to Dover as part of Operation Brock which is where trucks destined for the continent are stacked up waiting for their ferry. All other traffic was diverted onto the A roads with the consequential gridlock.

We were able to navigate across country to Faversham and indeed it was a pleasant ride. However, the county and its residents cannot continue to be disrupted as we are every time there is an issue at the ports. Brexit is responsible, no doubt, but listen to the Brexiteers and they become deniers.

Friends of ours came down to from the Lakes a few months ago to visit family in Margate. They went home early for various reasons one of which was the awful traffic and associated pollution saying they’re glad they don’t live down here any more. That’s all very well except how to they think the goods and services they use get to their tranquil spot?

There are too many places like Kent that are bearing the brunt of an unsustainable situation. And I can’t see it getting any better, only worse.

Our day was, by good fortune, only slightly inconvenienced, there will have been thousands who sweated in the jams today. Oare Creek, on the other hand, was a perfect dose of nature to ameliorate the circumstances of the day.