Warning – this archive may be boring – do not read unless you really haven’t got anything better to do!

Waterways: River Thames (including Thames Barrage); Bow Back Rivers; Lea Navigation

JANUARY – MARCH 2007

2/1/07

Teddington to Limehouse

River running very fast so had a slow trip upstream to Thames Ditton for diesel and a mega-fast trip back! Lots of brown flood water running down from the sources. We didn’t need to punch the tide – the river flow just cancelled it out!

The tide turned at Chiswick to we were very fast to Limehouse. Almost perfect conditions – sunny and dry but a little windy. Was very choppy after Westminster Bridge and the wake from commercial craft didn’t help! The ferries are very courteous though and we didn’t have any hassle.

Richard did a perfect turn and entry into Limehouse lock – he was complimented by the lock-keepers!

Under Tower Bridge was hairy – three ferries creating wash from everywhere!

3/1/07

Liam joined us today for the white knuckle ride from Limehouse Basin to the Royal Docks. We cruised from Limehouse to Bow Locks then went down the tidal Bow Creek to the Thames. Bow Creek is an interesting riverscape – a mix of dereliction and modern development. Saw a flock of flying wading birds – they looked like ducks in the air but they were smaller and were obviously waders when they landed. I still haven’t been able to identify them – I checked the books and there are just too many wading birds!

The Thames Tideway was very choppy but the boat handled like a dream. Went through the Thames Barrage (which was no hassle but still a great thing to do0. and successfully got past the Woolwich Ferries which whizz across the tideway and stop for not man (or his boat1).

Shortly after we turned into the biggest lock that I’ve ever seen – swallowed 10 narrowboats with no effort at all (in fact it could have swallowed over 100 and not had indigestion!). We shared the lock with a £10 million super-cruiser owned by Eddie Jordan (of formula 1 fame as Liam, our Irish crew, informed me).

The Royal Docks are awesomly big – magic to see planes landing at City Airport, where the runway is in the middle of the dock just feet away from the boat!

15 – 16/1/07

Richard left the Royal Docks in the company of the flotilla and a Navy warship! Had a good cruise up to West india Cock. Unfortunately I had to work, but I joined him for the night – fascinating dock scene – much more free water than I imagined possible in such a built up area. Richard joined the IWA campaign cruise ont he 16th – load of narrowboats mobbed the Houses of Parliament – great photos!

16/1/07 – 15/2/07

We’ve had at least one weekend aboard – took friends Neil and Jenny on the Olympic Park cruise – fascinating. Richard has been up a few times to turn the heating on/off because of frosty weather. Boat doing well and it’s a real luxury having a marina mooring (we camped in Limehouse for the winter because of lock closures). Particularly good to have a shore power link.

16 – 17/2/07

Had business meeting on board this morning (with one of my clients based in East London- so convenient!). Once the business was done my clients changed their hats and we took some friends (Andrew, Beth and Roma) for the Olympic Park cruise int he afternoon. We stayed over and had spectacular weather on Saturday so came back after dog school and spent the afternoon doing DIY and general domestics. Will go home on Saturday night though as the new sealant in the shower needs time to set.

Fixed new boat horn today (we had a productive trip round the London Boat Show while at the Royal Docks!) – it is VERY LOUD!

23/2/07

Did Olympic site tour with a crowd from Richard’s work today – fine weather and good company. Lou and Blue very well-behaved and settled quickly.

Went to ‘The Grapes’ – a very dog-friendly pub on narrow Street. Just missed the food there as they stop serving at 9pm but the pub meals that we saw looked good. Must remember to take fleece for dogs to lie on in the pub – they settle much sooner if they’re comfortable.

24/2/07

Did Olympic site tour and went on up to Hackney. Would like to do a longer cruise up there one day – maybe when we’re by ourselves.

Ate at the first pub by the old Hackney Power Station – all the food looked good apart from mine! Don’t have the salmon – it was raw! Ever practical, I took my raw salmon back to the boat and cooked it for the dogs – much appreciated though at the rate they scoff I’m surprised they tasted anything.

Joined today by EDF crowd – good company and seemed to enjoy the cruise.

Fitted digibox – finally have a good enough TV picture to be able to watch the rugby.

25/2/07

Had divine lie-in this morning as Richard took the dogs home and he went to the office (leaving me in peace). My penance was to spend the afternoon cleaning the boat – really does look much better for it.

Had chinese meal in a restaurant on Commercial road (get onto commercial road and turn right and cross over) – on the positive side it was an ‘eat all you can’ menu (rather than a buffet) with a good selection of nicely flavoured dishes but on the negative it was a bit greasy.

Having another night on the boat – just me and Richard – dogs having fun with Richard’s mum.

3/3/07

Welcomed Richard’s parent’s on board along with Danusia and Polo (her adorable dog). All dogs got on amazingly well on the boat though there were some sulks from Lou at having to give up her sofa to humans!

Wonderful day – warm and sunny with puffy white clouds being blown around. Had our usual fascinating trip round the olympic Park but a bit of a disaster at Olf For Lock.The electrics were sluggish but then worked long enough for us to get in the lock and fill it then they failed! This meant that we couldn’t get out fo the lock (the gates are electric). We were stuck int he lock for over an hour before a BW man came along to let us out! Wasn’t a tragedy though as we just sat and drank tea and ate Richard’s mum’s fine apple cake!

4/3/07

Today we’re expectring Liam and Lene though the weather forecast is dreadful – havey raina nd strong winds. Well, they’re hardy folk and hopefully fully kitted out with waterproofs!

Good news – although we had a few heavy showers it was mainly overcast so we had a good trip. Went further up the Lea than ever before to the next lock. That’s a waterway that I’d like to explore right to the top one day.

4/3/08 -8/4/08

Richard has done many cruises in March including at least three for his various clients. I must train him to keep a log!