Over the Swale Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Parking can be found at N51° 22.646 E000° 47.021, follow signs for RSPB Elmley Nature Reserve on the old A249, follow road through farm buildings then for about 2 miles to car park.
Walking towards the Elmley Reach part of the Swale, it is said that a bridge connected Sheppey to the mainland at Elmley. This was during the reign of Edward I and was called the Tremsethg Bridge, the bridge was supposed to have been lost to a freak tidal wave.
Walking along the banks of the river Swale towards the current crossings, the Swale is a busy waterway for shipping and yachts and has the right of way over land traffic.
There have been four bridges over the River Swale with the two remaining bridges still in use.
Until 1860 Sheppey had to rely on ferry services for which a toll was charged, these ferries ran from Harty, Elmley and Kings Ferry. The last to close was the Kings Ferry, the first bridge opened in July 1860; the bridge was built by The London, Chatham and Dover Railway and was built to an Admiralty design. It had a central span raised between two towers for road and rail traffic.
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway replaced the first bridge in November 1906 by a Scherzer-type bascule bridge, similar to one half of Tower Bridge, remains of the bridge can still be seen today. The rolling lift bridge was operated by hand originally but later this was changed to electric.
In October 1960 the current Kingsferry Bridge opened, it was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson. A lifting bridge of reinforced concrete and steel deck supported from portal-shaped reinforced concrete towers. It is able to lift both rail and road to allow ships to pass beneath. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 123 feet, with the lifting deck weighing in excess of 400 tons.
The new Sheppey crossing was opened in July 2006, a four lane fixed bridge which rises to a height of 29m over the Swale, a relief to road traffic no longer having to wait for bridge lifts to take place.
Please keep to the tracks and be aware that cattle and sheep also use these tracks, this is a marshland and can come become very wet. The view from the bank is especially good when there is a nice sunset.
Please replace the cache correctly once found; this is our first cache, which we hope you enjoy any feed back welcome.
PLEASE TAKE CARE NEAR WATERS EDGE.
As many have found parking can also be found on the old road next to the bridge at the other end of the footpath. However this area and road is often used as a dumping ground by some people.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gev-gung fgbar
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