Jul 10
26
MV Balmoral
On Thursday 22nd July I enjoyed a superb cruise for over 150 miles around the UK Kent coast on M.V. Balmoral cruise ship, sister ship to the popular and famous P.S.Waverley, last ocean going paddle steamer in the world!
White Cliffs
We sailed from Rye Wharf, Rye Harbour, East Sussex, past Dungeness, Folkestone harbour and through the Straits of Dover where we had a clear view of the north French coast, a great deal of commercial shipping and the magnificent White Cliffs of Dover Dame Vera Lynn famously sang about! The highlight here was the seafront at Deal, all the houses interesting in their architecture and delightful in their beautifully painted ambience. On to Ramsgate where we passed a ferry sailing to Oostende and past Broadstairs famous for Charles Dickens’ Bleak House.
Soon Margate was seen in the distance as we travelled into the Thames Estuary. The weather was mixed but at this point we were enjoying some fine sunshine, the sea was like a millpond, and the speedy Balmoral ate the miles. I never realised cruising could be such a delightfully serene occupation!
Deal Seafront
Gradually we neared the Medway and Southend opposite: past the longest pier in Europe, so long it has a train run the full length. We saw the funfair in the distance! Sailing nearer London was enthralling: past my cousin’s house at Greenhithe with an old merchant vessel moored up outside the quay, and under the Queen Elizabeth Dartford crossing bridge. We all strained for our very first glimpse of Canary Wharf, finally seen under a foreboding stormy sky, the sun’s rays peering through, highlighting the Americanesque landscape.
The array of fine architecture designs all along the Thames waterfront was an eye opener for me: accustomed to London as a grimy sooty city here is a thoroughfare any nation would wish to showcase! Every visitor to Great Britain should cruise up the Thames: here is England at its finest! Everything shiny new as a pin, huge towers to gentle terraces and trees to soften the effect between.
Greenwich
Through the Thames Barrier, past the O2 Stadium, one-time Millenium Dome, Royal Woolwich Arsenal, the old Naval College, Greenwich, Canary Wharf and on into the heart of the greatest city in the world: London! 
After many curves of the river under a dark grey sky finally appeared Tower Bridge: everyone was on the foredeck to watch the bridge majestically open and Balmoral sound the hooter as we passed beneath the great picturesque Victorian bridge and turn to Tower Pier beside the imposing Tower of London and opposite berth to HMS Belfast, WWII cruiser.
What a magnificent trip, what a memorable day! Next year I want to sail around the Isle of Wight, my birthplace 
Opening Tower Bridge!
If you live in the UK be sure to google search for Waverley Cruises: the ships travel around the whole UK coast during each year and there are sure to be trips you can enjoy. Even if you live in the Midlands you can be sure it is well worth making the trip coastwards: see your country from a new angle – you’ll be amazed!
What an awesome sea-faring history the GB nation has: I felt sailing the Kent coast gave me a huge appreciation for the development of industry and warfare and the economics of Britain. Enjoy!
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