Robyn's Family History Adventure: Day 1

The adventure begins in Chatham which is a port in the South East of England. I chose this place to come to because of the Historic Dockyards and because the Medway was where many convict hulks were parked before the convicts were moved to other ships for their journey to Australia. I also believe that this is where Robert Melville's ship the Glatton left from and was hoping to confirm this at the Library in the Dockyards.

A typically wet English day - I had secured my lodgings at the Officer's Hill Bed and Breakfast which was located inside the Dockyards. Arriving the night before from London I trundled up the hill with backpack and roller case, getting completely soaked and cursing how close things look on a map but how far they seem when you a) don't know where you are going and b) have a backpack on. A truly lavish B&B it was and after weeks sleeping on a couch I revelled in the double bed and started working out how to use my new Pentax K-X (thanks Jenny). I took a quick walk around the dock yards to get my bearing for the next day.

Here's a picture of the room I took whilst trying to work out the camera.

I had an early one - making good use of the tea and coffee making facilities and a quick shot of the liqueur they had kindly provided (for medicinal purposes as I was coughing) as breakfast would be served at 8am.

7.30am alarm was a shock after a restless night - I showered and made my way down for the full English and what proved to be a bad choice of prunes and other stewed fruits.

I headed out with camera at the ready and wandered around the ships and other buildings. They have a rather gallant naval sloop from 1878 seen below.

It was but 9am and nothing seemed to be open - so I decided to walk down to St Mary's Island where a prison had previously stood. It was a long walk with not much outstanding around. After a while I began to feel the need for a convenience - of which none were conveniently located. My steps hurried as I breathed deeply and thought of other things until the wonder that is the Dockside Outlet Centre and the even more enticing Dickens World loomed up ahead. Just in time.

After a quick stop and the Cadbury outlets store I continued on walking around St Marys Island which seems covered by new housing and a mildly interesting plaque near a bridge about the convict labour was found.

It was almost 12 by this time so I decided to head back to the Docklands to see if was now open. It was pouring with rain by this time. I chanced upon the sign for the front gate which announced its closure until mid February. Obviously my researcher will need to be sacked ... oh wait that's me. I sack myself on the spot and vow to be a bit more vigilant with research for the rest of the trip.

Soaked and disillusioned by the epic failure of this part of the trip I decided to say goodbye to Chatham and head off to Canterbury - a 50 minute or so train ride away.

I checked into the slightly dated Clare Ellen Guesthouse and decided to check out a bit of Canterbury with what I had left of the day.

Wandering into the city centre I had a terrible coffee (come on people wash the damn thing out between cups will ya) and then checked out the splendour that is Canterbury Cathedral. That is some big ass church - and what or who is the Surveyor To the Fabric? Is it like one of the Queer Eye guys who makes comments on what people are wearing to church perhaps? I am sure my mother will enlighten me (as well as no doubt scolding me for the use of ass in relation to a church). They do have some splendid bling on display and I must look up if its possible to quieten the clicking and whurring noises on the new camera.