Thames traffic.

Again today there will be loads of photos and  not much  prose as it has been one of those days. Between us we must have taken  around 800 photos so I think another blog  with some other of the best photos on when I have sorted them out more. We just had time to go and get water before our pen out at 1000. In the end we were out on our own and away. The first thing we saw was the Royal  Barge under tow.

Leaving Limehouse Lock just around 1000.

The Royal Barge under tow to the Tall Ships Festival.

There is so much building going on and from the river it is obvious to see that there are so many places converted to apartments (nobody has a  flat in London) and many more being built new.

Converted riverside wharf and warehouse.

We were soon up amongst the iconic buildings and fighting our way through  traffic. We were just a little early for Tower Bridge to be lifted for us (other ships to come down stream). We did pass under the centre span though.

Spectacular remodeling of Hays Wharf.

HMS President painted in dazzle paint scheme as per vessels in WWI.

The London Eye.

Houses of Parliament.

Vauxhall Bridge has eight bronze statues on the piers each denoting various aspects of life. I think this one is education. Each one weighs 2 tonnes and they were erected in 1907.

Battersea Power Station has been bought by a Malaysian team to convert to mixed use building. I think originally the four chimnies were to be demolished but there has been such an outcry that they are to be saved. I hope so as the building would lose all context with out them.

Albert Bridge, Chelsea. It was built in 1873 as a cable stay bridge but proved unsound. Therefore between 1884 and 1887 it was rebuilt with elements of a suspension bridge. It was a toll bridge only for six years.

Harrod's Depository. I have only seen it on the Boat Race coverage previously.

This is the house, of  all the ones we saw on the way to Brentford, that we liked the best for our own. Mind you, there is quite a long list others that would fit the bill if this one wasn't available.

This is the approach to Thames Lock at Brentford.

We entered the lock to be told by the lock  keeper that the Hanwell flight of locks had been closed. It seems that the Police have closed it so that divers can search the area as this is where the girl that went missing last week was last seen. We are hoping that they will be open in a day or two. meanwhile we will site here and catch the  tube into London. Amy's boyfriend treated us to a meal at the Magpie and Crown that was very tasty indeed before going home for work. It has been a great day, in fact a fantastic weekend and there is a week still to go with our daughter. In the end it may mean we have to retrace our steps to Limehouse to go back up the Regents Canal.