The boat was packed early, but camping by a pub, I couldn’t resist the chance of celebrating Sunday with a full English breakfast. The kitchen didn’t open until 9, but I was allowed to wait in the pub. Enjoying their wifi I used my time well by writing and posting my stories of the past day for you.

The downside of lazing about in the morning and eating huge brekkies, is that the tide is not waiting…. Oh my. Good thing I had such a great breakfast, as it cost quite a bit of effort to get my very heavy boat out to the water. Did I know that would happen? Yes. Did I care? Not too much. After two long days of paddling I was hungry like a wolf.

When I had hoisted up my kayak the evening before, the tide had been much higher and it hadn’t been so hard, but now, the water was a long way away. The ground was made of sharp rocks, rubble and weed, and my little trolley kept collapsing. It just wouldn’t roll. Axel Schoevers had told me this might happen and had given me a great tip before I left. He had advised me to find a plank and put it under the bow of the kayak, then carrying the other end of the kayak around to the waters side, so the kayak turns 180 degrees. Inching my way forward to the water, it took me 8 or 9 lift-and-walk-arounds before the kayak ended up on the very slippery sea weed, where I could drag it to the water.

Finally, the hard work was done and I could launch. It wasn’t long before I spotted more seals, a small family with a pup. All of them immediately slid into the water. Their waddling moves looked remarkably like the dancing penguins in Happy Feet. Mom took the pup away far away from me, and dad stayed close to me to make sure I stayed away from his precious little family. I was a good girl and kept paddling, leaving them in peace.

After yesterday’s adventure on the sandbanks of the Thames, I was a bit weary of the sand. I paid close attention, making sure I wouldn’t get grounded again. Knowing I would pass Whitstable, I had hoped for a lunch stop there for some sea food. No luck, the sandbanks kept getting in the way. There just wasn’t a way through.

Not far from here is an area called the Shivering sands. The locals tell me that the sand banks keep moving around, so that is maybe what they mean by shivering! As they keep moving, the charts aren’t very helpful. The shape of the waves will give the shallows away. I just had to keep watching the water and if I wasn’t sure, I’d poke down my paddle.

The wind had picked up a bit, and on the shallows the waves were starting to roll over, forming a low but surprisingly powerful surf. That surf would have been nice if I would have had sea under me, but now the water was only 30 cm deep or so, it worried me a bit. The tide was ebbing, and I was a long way away from the shore. Afraid I might get in trouble if I kkept heading for the shore, I opted to paddle towards the fairway, even though the fair way was in the opposite direction from where I wanted to be! I headed in the direction of a red buoy, far away by the windfarm. I didn’t dare turning my kayak back to the shore until I could almost touch them.

From where I was, Herne Bay looked a long way away. I squinted my eyes trying to find out what all those little things sticking out of the water were. Why would they have so many buoys? I kept guessing, but it wasn’t until I was almost at Herne bay that I found out those little things were windsurfers. And a whole lot of them! I don’t think I ever saw that many wind surfers in one spot.

Behind the wind surfers I noticed a building that looked like it could be a sailing club. And on the hill behind it I spotted some tents. Now that seemed like a wonderful sign.

A good sign it was indeed. The club was buzzing, Herne Bay Sailing club was hosting the North Sea Windsurf Championships and surfers from all over the country, and even some French, Dutch and French surfers were taking part.

No matter how busy it clearly was, the club has been extremely welcoming. Some lovely men helped me carry my kayak to a safe spot, someone else told me I could put my tent in the club’s garden. I could smell the food from afar, and for 4 pounds I had a steaming bowl of spaghetti Bolognaise, a salad and a hot cup of tea.

The party is over now, everyone has gone home. My tent is behind the house, and I have the keys. Absolutely amazing. I have Wifi to chat with you, electricity to charge my phone, tablet and camera, there are toilets and a hot shower. What more could I possibly want?

Distance paddled: 24 km / 15 m / 13 Nm