Boating Buddies.

What a difference a day makes. The reason we moved in the rain yesterday was to be in Limehouse to act as Boating Buddies for some C&RT staff.

Some nice flats/apartments overlooking our mooring last night.

We set off about 1030 after a brief introduction, safty and route briefing.... We had decided to return up the locks to use the Hertford Union Canal. This would mean that there would be seven locks rather than only one for them to experience. We shared the lock with Bubbles. There was plenty of duck weed on the canal bu we made progress up the flight.

A nice sculpture on Victory Bridge near Johnson's Lock where there is the Ragged School Museum. It was a warehouse that was converted by Dr. Barnado and acted as a school and kitchen for the East Ends children.

A colourful wall and interested gongoozler near Mile End Lock.

Just before Old Ford Lock there is a little hole in the wall that is the entrance to the Hertford Union or Ducketts Cut. It looks like a narrow canal entrance but is wide beam.

Left to right, Jane, Cassie and Katy our Buddies from C&RT. They each helped with the locks and all had a go steering. There was no damage to persons or property and all did well. It was great chatting to them and hearing the troubles that they have and being able to tell them what we found as we went about and also what we found was good as I didn't want it just to be a moan day. As it was it turned out a nice day and we would definitely do it again.

At He north end of the Hertford Union Canal we turned on to the Lee Navigation at Sweet Water and looked back to the ex Olympic Park. The roof is almost off the main stadium now. We will be closer on the way down back to Limehouse.

The going was slow as there were lines of moored boats, but there were spaces. The trip felt really rural with parks and and reservoirs by the canal

The building on the left looks like it may have been an old stables at one time. The middle building is a boat shed for the Lea Valley Rowing Club. The canal is combined with the river Lee at this point and flows down. It is quite clean and clear too.

Markfield Beam Engine. The engine housed in the large building was for pumping sewage to the nearby sewage farm. It was constructed in Sowerby Bridge Yorkshire and commissioned here in 1888. It worked continuously until 1905 where it was retained to deal with storm water surges. It is a double expansion beam engine. It consumed 200kg of coal per hour. The coal would have been brought by boat I assume. The two drivers/mechanics lived on site in tied cottages. It is frequently open to the public.

It wasn't much further on that we came to Tottenham Lock. We were dropping the three girls off as this was handy for the Tube. We were lucky that there was also a mooring just there too so that was us for the day. We may take advantage of the Tube to head back into London.