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Saturday 6 September 2014

Tall ships and long walks.

No apologise for an overload  of photos today. We were up at 0630 as we had to be off to make our way up Limehouse Cut to Bow Back River.Our flotilla had been allowed to enter and the barrier had been removed. C&RT had got the levels such that we could pass straight through City Mill Lock and turn onto City Mills Wall River and then into the Prescott Channel to Three Mills Locks. Here there were several pens out into Bow Creek and we were in the third.

Crew of 'Holderness' on the Limehouse Cut

Just leaving City Mill Lock there is a 120 degree turn into Three Mills Wall River that then leads quickly Three Mills Lock.

Three Mills Lock just cracking open to let us out.

Procession down Bow Creek.

Lightship at the entrance to Bow Creek and just about to enter the Thames Tideway.

Almost opposite is the O2 with great views.

The larger vessels were at buoys and others were alongside jetties. Still more were moving down river.

A rare site opposite the Royal Navy College Greenwich.

The steam tug Portwey made every jump every time it sounded it's whistle.

I hadn't realised but we were make a trip down Deptford Creek which meant crossing the river an d entering astern of the moored cruise ship 'Europa'. The Creek wasn't very elegant but it was good to get to see a part that we would never have seen normally. We had to turn at the end and make our way out again and head across the channel again.

Railway lift bridge that must have been a sight when it was working.

The river was quite busy when we crossed  back to the north and we had to go astern of this tall ship.

'Europa' moored to buoys.

Just near Limehouse lock was this Anthony Gormley statue, or look a like. We also saw a seal catch and eat a fish whilst we were waiting for our turn of five pens into the Limehouse Basin.

Only three in this lock as the others  were too long.

After mooring up again we composed ourselves and went for lunch with the others at the Cruising Association by the lock, We were soon off again and decided to go over to Greennwich, via the Emirates Cable Car.

The Tidal Barrier from the Emirates Sky cable car.

There was no queuing on our side and for £3 it was a good ride.

We decided to walk round the Thames Path to see the boats moored. It was packed and the path was very narrow where it was passing through the almost continuous building site and people were ambling in the heat. We eventually met up with friends in a pub in Greenwich. They had to go for their train so after a natter and a couple of pints they were off. We had a walk round the market and then headed throiugh the foot tunnel as there were very long queues for the DLR on the south bank

Great views of the Royal Naval College from the  North Bank.

Even a watery sun had come out for the last photo call of the  river today.

It had been a great day but with the early start and walking in the heat we were tired and looking forward to our tea. Just the time for a nice photo of Limehouse Basin. We are moored near the lock and are on our own at the moment. We may go out for a short walk later on.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Some great photos. I am very envious of blue sky and sunshine, we've had rain all day!

Carol said...

Fantastic pictures of a probably once in a life time cruise - brilliant!

Marilyn, nb Waka Huia said...

Very well done, you two! I am trying to persuade David to do the Thames from Limehouse next year, but he's not having it - that's his wussiness! Love the photos, hate the Sky cable car - that's my wussiness ... Mx

NB Holderness said...

Hi Carol,
How are you doing on the Thames? We didn't manage to catch up with you on the way down the Grand Union. Where will you be spending the next few months? Having a wide beam now are you taking up residence on the Thames? The Thames trips were great, even the anchoring after breakdown, and has given us both confidence for the Ribble, Wash, Severn and Humber jaunts in the future.