Special Day Trip to London
14 September 2000
Report and pictures by Martin Longhurst
As a lucrative charter in London had been obtained, the
intended Thames Estuary cruise was re-arranged as a single trip from Strood to
London Bridge City Pier.
Leaving at 10.00, the Kingswear Castle steamed under grey skies with a cold
breeze blowing. There were only about 40 on board, but a special treat was
arranged in the form of bacon rolls, cooked on the fiddley, just behind the
funnel.
Further up the Thames the steam tug Portwey was encountered and both ships kept
station for a time before the Portwey steamed off at a rate of knots. Later the
KC came upon her moored at Greenwich, and she set off in pursuit.
KC arrived in the Pool of London on time at 18.30.