Monday, July 30, 2012

Day 19: Chatham Dockyards & HMS Caviler

Today was spent at the Chatham Dockyards, where the group had lots of tours and got to spend the night on a battleship.

Randy Martin
As all have probably guessed, internet access was limited the last couple of days. Monday morning we we headed over to Chatham Dockyards (where they've been building ships since the early 1600's) - we toured around there all day - seeing an old sailing warship, a diesel submarine, a museum of old Coast Guard rescue boats, a musuem describing the old sailing ship construction techniques, a ropery (John and Matt got to help make some rope the old fashioned way), and then we overnighted on a WWII destroyer, the HMS Cavalier. The following morning (today - Tuesday) we went to Leeds Castle and did some high wires and ziplines at a place called Go Ape. Then it was off with the host families.
The Martins, as well as Ian and David, were treated to a cricket lesson on the village green with David Beeching - followed by a "proper curry dinner".

Chatham Dockyards


HMS Cavalier, WWII destroyer which we actually spent the night on. What a thrill.

Cap'n Matt aboard the HMS Cavalier


Playing Battleship on a destroyer.....raise your hand if you have done that before....

The Ropery at Chatham Dockyard. This building is 1/4 mile long. All of the rope for the Royal Navy ships built here was made here in this building including HMS Victory.

Torpedo tubes on the HMS Oscelot. Pretty wicked.


Check out the portion size of that fish-n-chips. Tasty but I think I an having heart trouble now. I think I will carry an AED for a while..... scouts, I'm glad you all are CPR Certified...

David finding there wasn't much head room on the old submarine beds