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.

Leaving the Lee.

We were off just before 0900 as we had to be in Limehouse Basin before 1200. It was a dull but warm day and it was nice moving down the Lee Navigation with nobody else on the water.

Signs of the past industrial life of the river. Buildings are now mainly apartments.

The mold Anchor and Hope surrounded by newer apartment blocks. I have never seen an Anchor and Hope as more usually it is the Hope and Anchor in my experience.

Despite it's industrial past there are numerous stretched that pass through nature reserves and parks giving a very rural feel to the water way.

I just saw this out of the corner of my eye. I love to see these sort of inscriptions. A wet-bob was an Etonian that went into rowing rather than a dry-bob who played cricket.

We were soon at the junction with the Hertford Canal Cut and once again on to new territory as we went straight on with the Limehouse Cut. We were soon  at the Olympic site  with work going on to remove the roof of the stadium to make it for for West Ham to take over!

The Olympic Stadium with the Orbit Sculpture in the background.

The Entrance to the Bow Back River round the other side of the site is still barred to traffic. From around this area there is a lot of duck weed on the cut.

The Clock Mill at Three Mill Island where there  had been mills since Saxon times. There is the House Mill with the Millers cottage and the Gunpowder Mill. The complex is the largest tidal mill in the world.

We soon had our first view of Canary Wharf.

We were all tied up by about 1145 and after quickly getting changed we walked to Canary Wharf to meet Helen's cousin Susan and her son Eammon outside the Docklands Museum. We then had a nice lunch, courtesy of Edmund, and then had a quick trip round the Museum before going our separate ways. I had never met her despite being married for 28 years and it was great to finally meet up.

We are just waiting to go the the Saint Pancras Cruising Club briefing for the cruise on the tideway to view the Tall Ships at Greenwich in the morning. It sounds like an early start for that.

Family time.

Plans were changed last night as we were going to move today to get closer to Limehouse but we had a rearranged date with Helen's Uncle and Aunt. 'Uncle' Stephen came and collected us  along with daughter Amy and took us to their house at Repton Park, Woodford Bridge. It is on top of a hill set in 145 acres of park and woodland that had been designed by Sir Humphry Repton. In 1893 the fifth London Lynatic Asylum known as Claybury Hospital. It housed 4000 at its peak. Inevitably times changed and the NHS wanted demolition everything for new housing. English Heritage and the Council argued to retain as mush as possible along with new sympathetic buildings. The planning was passed after a public inquiry in 1997.

Claybury Asylum

We then went out for lunch into the countryside to a pub called The Moletrap which was an olde worlde place that was very busy. I had the meat pie that was very nice indeed and a couple of pints of Brewers Gold by Crouch Vale in Essex. It was a beautiful pint and quite the best I have tasted for a good  while. It had been beer of the year a couple of times in 2005/06 I think it was.

The Moletrap pub.

We went back for a cup of tea and then it was time to beat the traffic and get back to the boat. It was lovely to get out into the countryside of Essex and Epping Forest. It was also great to see them both looking so well and hale and hearty. It was a shame we missed cousin Alexandra.

Helen, Uncle Stephen, Tony and Aunty Norma

We just had time to pop in to Tottenham Hale to visit the fabric warehouse that we had been told about by a Gongoozler at Stockbridge Lock. There was loads of stuff there and as they manufacture it there the prices were either £1 or £2 a metre. We came out with loads in two bags for £10.

We have to be up early in the morning as we have another date with relations in London.

Nearly back in the bright lights.

After a busy evening we had 10 mins extra in bed and although warm we couldn't see very far as it was foggy. By the time we left at just after 0900 it was all clear. We were out in the country in Waltham Marshes last night but we soon got so that where ever there was a road there were loads of moored boat.

There were two little yachts together on one moorings. They hadn't moved for a while as the coots had made a nest in the rigging trailing in the river.

At Enfield Lock there is a row of houses called Government Row on a private  road. I thought that they may be something to do with the Gunpowder factory but that is further north. It seems they were for the British Small Arms Factory that was built in Enfield in the Napoleonic times in 1812. The factory has been redeveloped as housing now. The Lee Enfield rifle was the main rifle of the British Army for years. I wonder if the Lee was after the river. The rectangular floating frames are to encourage wildlife  and plants etc.

The old BSA Factory

The lock house has Lee Conservancy 1899 on the plaque.

This photo really sums up the difference between the Stort and Lee. The Lee is wider, straighter, more open and more industrial than the Stort.

Contrast with the Stort.

 One one side of the Lee are the reservoirs and on the other are industrial sites, many of which are being developed for new uses.

The new Somme.

We stopped at Ponders End services to fill up  with water. We did want to empty the compost loo but the elsan point was looked with a non C&RT key so we were stuck.

We kept going to Stonebridge Services and did the loo there. The state of the elsan was disgusting but I did the deed. I cleaned up the basin etc as best I could with a scrubbing brush. It seems that the loos and showers are spotless but I don't think the cleaning contractors are liable for the elsan point, or they are missing it.

We thought that we would moor above Tottenham Hale Lock but we went aground trying to get in alongside. It took a bit of rocking side to side to  wriggle off. We went down the lock and moored where we had on the way up. We just had enough time to walk to the Tube Station and meet our daughter who is staying for a couple of  days.

These geese just took my eye as they looked so similar and clean and white in the mucky water. Although the Lee has really clean sections.

Back on the straight and wider.

We were ready at 0915 but there was a lad coming up the lock so we were delayed whilst we helped him through It was a beautiful day so there was no hardship waiting. We had three locks to do on the Stort before getting back to the Lee Navigation. 

I have a mystery that I hope that somebody out there can solve. There is a line of these concrete blocks, about 500yds apart across Hunsdon Mead which is a hay meadow. On the way up it seemed that the line continued on the other side of the canal too. There is no tunnel below the area. They look like WWII vintage. There was an airfield where Mosquito planes operated from in the 1940's but that is quite away away and the line doesn't seem to point towards there. The other idea I had was that they could be access to a subsurface pipeline but I can find nothing about it.

I nearly went the wrong way as I was looking at Roydon Mill. The canal actually goes 90 dgs to port under a railway bridge. The old mill stream looks like a canal. Roydon Mill seems to be an hotel now, and there are chalets in the grounds and a marina with many boats within it and a lock to get into it.

We turned to port at Feilde's Weir and back on to the Lee. After penning down we stopped for water just on the lock landing before setting off again.

The Fish and Eels pub has long moorings alongside and looks quite a nice place to eat.

There has been a few wide beams moving today. I can't say that it looks much fun to me. It must keep you on edge all the time as you can't get out of the way on these narrower navigations

This trip boat was very full of folk having a nice lunch. One thing on the side of a wide beam is that it can't go anywhere in the lock.

We were warned by the trip boat that a rowing boat had overturned just round the corner and a day boat was rescuing them. All that was to be seen was an overturned rowing boat by the offside bank. The hire base at Broxbourne seems to have a busy trade in pedalos, rowing and motor boats, along with day boats that venture further afield.

Opposite the hire base is another nice pub, the Crown.

The reservoirs and flooded gravel pits seem to be put to good use and this sailing/canoe/climbing club seems to be very well equipped.

We were tied up by 1530 and had a bite to eat before setting to with a number of jobs. I had stored some logs under the solar panels and needed to move them so that when we went on the Thames we didn't lose them. It mean't rejigging the bow locker and stowing stuff better. I also sawed up the last of the timber we had picked up. I also filled the stern greaser up and helped Helen change the planting in our pots as they were past there best. Helen than started some baking and I went to pick some blackberries and also found some conference pears. I reckon that must be a blackberry and pear pie in Helen's new pie dish bought in Bishop Stortford.

There is a real contrast between the Stort and the Lee. I expect that the Stort is not much boated but it is a shame as it is beautiful up there and the navigation does give a brilliant challenge to steering etc. The gates are heavy and as the locks are only 13' wide both gates have to be opened/closed. It is a navigation not to be hurried and done in short days and take advantage to the lovely walks and villages that you pass by. It is well worth the trouble, and if you have got as far as London you may as well.

Travelling down hill quickly, but slowly.

We had to get soem miles and locks under our belts today so we were off by 0900. We are going up to the head of navigation at Bishops Stortford and then back down as far as we can so we can get to Tottenham on Wednesday.

Big ex-maltings at  Sawbridgworth. All the towns in this part of the world seem to have maltings buildings.

 I can't remember whick lock that this plates was at the foot of but all the locks seem to be round mill streams but it is the only one I saw. The range was set so as to ensure that there was sufficient water for the mill to work.

We got to Bishop Storford at 1130 and by the time we had winded and moored it was 1200. We walked into town which is very close to do a little shopping, and post some stuff etc. The town looks quite cute with little roads and snickets and as good range of shops with the well stocked charity shops that are a feature everywhere these days it seems.

The Corn Exchange that has been converted, by the little Market Square.

16 Century timbered pub, The Black Lion after Queen Phillippa on Bridge Street.

We dashed around and then back to the boat. We had a bite to eat and then we were off again heading down hill at 1400.

Just on the outskirts of Bishop Stortford is this complicated looking foot bridge.

It seems to take ages to get down the curvaceous Stort. When you are trying to go quickly the locks seem to fill slowly and of course everyone is against us. The leaving of the gates open is great if they are with you but add enormously to the time when they are all against you and there are no walk ways on the top gates! The weather held off with just a slight drizzle every now and then. The scenery is varied with woods and water meadows

The Stort winding through the water meadows.

I think that these horses are some special breed. Can anybody verify this and tell what the colour of them is called?

Part of our hurry is that we wanted to get to Hallingbury Marina as we needed fuel and they closed at 1600. We made it in good time to find a very neat and tidy marina with about 160 slots for a mixture of cruisers and narrow boats. One filled up we were off again.

Little Hallingbury Mill seen from the canal.

Little Hallingbury Mill seen from the end of the marina. The mill stream that would have gone under the mill and drive the water wheel has been converted into a dry dock.

I had a worry that we would be stuck for days above Latton Lock as it just would not fill for the boat coming up. The top paddles seem to hardly let a trickle in and the bottom gates leak so it never makes a level and requires a good push with the bow of the boat. By the time it was our turn to go down I had sawn up some wood and 45 mins had passed. The lack of clear bank and the A1184 running next to the canal kept us moving on and it was almost dark by the time we got to some moorings before Hunsdon Mill Lock.

Our water pump had been very slow to come on when the tap was opened. I had cleared the pump section but now I had a go at the pressure switch side. It was a little gooed up so I cleaned it up and there seems to be a screw down on the pressure switch so I slacked it off a bit to see if that would help. I put it all back together and turned on the tap. Loo and behold all seemed fine, but the 240V sockets went off, as did the inverter. How was this possible as the water pump is 12V and the inverter etc 240V. I sat had a think, checked the fuses and then remembered a fuse in the engine bay. I checked and the wire had come of it at the back. Fortunately the fuse was okay as I don't have a replacement. All was well when I snapped it back together and felt proud of myself.