Boat Blog: View from the cable car…

It was still very early when we arrived at the Royal Dock – early enough for Richard to go off to work and for me to take a “360 degree” trip on the Emirates Air Line  to take some photographs. It was the most beautiful morning – a proper photographer would say it was too bright but I appreciate a bit of winter sunshine.

Here are some of my photos from the trip – sadly some have been marred by the sun reflecting from the glass walls of the “pod” but I got enough photos to make the trip worthwhile 🙂

The convoy at its moorings – very handy for the DLR and for the cable car….

Cutting us down to size – from up here you start to get an idea of the scale…

Going up…

Great view – see the red ship in the centre of the frame? That’s the lightship moored at Bow Creek Mouth…

Panorama 1

Panorama 2

Panorama 3

On the “level”…

Panorama 4

Looking towards City Airport – wish I’d got a shot of a plane taking off – or maybe that would have felt too close for comfort 😀

Enterprising businesses can now advertise their services on their rooftops – in case you’re put off by the heights, the river ferry at the far end does the same 🙂

Now that’s a mooring with good connections to local transport 🙂

Boat Blog: To the Royal Docks – Photoblog…

Well, two rainy weeks have passed since we had our glorious early morning trip to the Royal Docks in the annual St Pancras Cruising Club convoy, many thanks to them for organising such a splendid cruise. The trip down was amazing – we couldn’t have asked for more perfect cruising conditions, and although the 6am start was a bit painful, cruising by starlight into the glowing dawn was quite magical.

We’ve posted some photos as we went along, but they were from my iphone, and although the phone camera did a good job it can’t compare with the proper job – enjoy!

This is what happens when a “point and click” camera user tries to take photos in low light conditions! Still a good, if unintended, effect though 🙂

Sharing Bow Lock with nb Ketura…

Some more “Sue doesn’t know what she’s doing with the camera” photo effects 🙂

Bow Creek by starlight..

Cruising towards the promise of dawn…

The light was amazing…

The convoy following Bow Creek’s extravagant meanders – the camera has a setting which maximises the light available…

But this is nearer to the actual light by which we cruised 🙂

Commuters – I don’t think they notices us gliding by below….

Looking back up Bow Creek and the massive Crossrail works…

The big river ahead…

The dawn on the horizon – it was a great time to be cruising east (-ish)…

Wonder what it looks like from up there – I’ll show you later 🙂

“Rosy fingered dawn”…

Converging contrails – it felt as if the world was coming to life as we cruised…

Thames Barrier – the sun was rising now…

Priceless…

Living London…

Turning towards the Royal Docks – there’s still a long way to go though..

The sunrise…

In the QUARTER lock at the Royal Docks – still quite roomy though..

The end of the runway at City Airport… and yes you do get this close

There’s nothing like racing a plane down the runway……

The Royal Docks are vast – such fun to cruise this close to an airport…

Almost there – that’s Excel on the right…

Boat blog: City Mill Lock

Such a treat to come back via the “Olympic” locks – there was too much flow down the Lea (or is it Lee?) for us to come out this way…

Boat blog: really low headroom!

Boat blog: low headroom on the waterworks river

Boat blog: Three Mills Lock

We’re thrilled use this lock. – intended as a gateway to the Olympic Park it feels like an underused resource…

Boat blog: KG V lock

Lack of lock capacity is not an issue on this cruise 🙂

Boat blog: On our way….

Plenty of time for sightseeing in the Royal Docks –
City Airport don’t like ironmongery, like narrowboats, crossing the end of the runway when they’re landing! Will explain why when I do a proper blog!

Boat blog: moored up by the emirates cable car

Anyone want to join us for the return trip on Monday??

Boat blog: view from the side hatch