On a High in Lower Halstow

[Chris]

When there are upper and lower versions of a place name, one would reasonably assume they are close together. Not so the Halstows, where the "Higher Holy Place" is on the Isle of Grain, served by the 191 and 193, and the "Lower Holy Place" is actually over the border in Swale, east of Rainham. In the absence of M&D route 65, Google Maps tells me it will take me 93 minutes to cycle between the two villages, where both churches are dedicated to St Margaret... so near, but yet so far?

A previous ride last summer suggested it might be a nice place to "catch" Chalkwell's 327, and on leaving Bredhurst I passed through the now bus-less Hartlip and Newington (where I was just in time to try my hand at train photography) to Lower Halstow, where I hoped there wouldn't be too much curtain-twitching as I spent the five minutes waiting for my prey. 

An inconveniently parked car was going to cause problems for one angle, so I would have to rely on the driver being kind enough not to speed off as he left the stop, and my luck was in. Not only that, the vehicle in question, Solo YD63UZR, was only new to the company the previous month, and had yet to be recorded in Invicta. So confused was I at this rare feat I checked to make sure I hadn't made a mistake in my Chalkwell fleetlist! 

The car is just visible through the bus windows, whilst I dared to leave my trusty steed more than 2 feet away from me "behind the driver"!

Chris

[Neil Gow]

East and West Kilbride come to mind. Maybe I've strayed two far off topic and out of region, but could claim a nebulous link through the unsubstantiated possibility that some former M&D/AKS/AMT vehicles in the Clydeside/Arriva Scotland West (as was) fleet might have reached West Kilbride.

Neil G.

[DBJ]

Kingsdown and West Kingsdown?

[Chris]

The second of Chalkwell's three acquisitions recorded in this month's Invicta kindly appeared in front of my camera on Wednesday evening, on the last journey of the day, which starts at Medway Hospital. rather than running through to/from Chatham. Whether by accident or design, it did wait until the arrival of the 176/177 service from Chatham.

The 326 won't serve Lower Halstow, instead sticking to the A2 and arriving at Sittingbourne in 32 minutes, against the 53 required for the longer journey on the 327 (plus 15 minutes for the Chatham to Medway Hospital section)

The bus turning circle is right at the very entrance to the hospital grounds (and thus furthest from the entrance to the hospital!), and with one knee in the hedge to ensure more than adequate passing space for the few members of staff around I felt comfortable that I wasn't causing any trouble, lest anyone be concerned about the location. 

Chris

(6 hours, between the Kingsdowns, is a touch too far for me to cycle in one day!)