Limehouse to Royal Victoria Dock
9 January 2008
Fulbourne in Limehouse Basin
Accompanied by some larger, whiter, and much more expensive craft
We set off in convoy along Limehouse Cut
Two rather unloved BW tugs at Bow
Helen turning above Bow Locks
More of the convoy arriving
'Major' turns in a mist of diesel smoke
Waiting for the incoming tide
Two of the boats lock through...
... and continue into the sun
Fulbourne and Ernest make for the lock, with Major behind
Entering the lock
Tim on the footbridge
The gates are open and we head for Bow Creek
The entrance to the gas works dock
Approaching the bridges at Canning Town
The fendering on this disused railway bridge has been renewed since our last trip, but the rest of it looks rather unloved
Major behind us
The first of the two hairpins on Bow Creek...
... and approaching the second
As we approached the muster point at Bow Creek Mouth, one of the boats made an unexpected turn to the bank...
... to pick up a passenger!!
We are heading for the London Boat Show, not the Ideaal Home Exhibition!
Container City at Trinity Bouy Wharf
A former lightship...
... and lighthouse
Looking up towards Canary Wharf - "Wall Street on Water"
The convoy heads downriver
Major
We were joined by the dredger "Swallow" for a while
Approaching the Woolwich Barrier
The convoy passes through the barrier
Approaching the Woolwich Ferry
Fulbourne's birthplace. These appartments are on the site of the Harland and Wolff North Woolwich Shipyard where Fulbourne was built in 1937
The convoy turns towards the King George V entrance lock to the Royal Docks
Entering the lock
Paul shows his relief that we have left tidal waters!
Leaving the lock. The catamaran ahead will have to wait for the bridge to be lifted
Turning into the passge leading to the Royal Albert Dock
And passing beneath the London City Airport flightpath
Rowing crews were out in force in the dock
Off the tideway, but still in wide and deep waters for Fulbourne, Tim feels confident enough to walk the top plank
Approaching the Connaught Swing Bridges leading to the Royal Victoria Dock
Excel, where the Boat Show is held, together with HMS Exeter and the Sunborn Yacht Hotel
Approaching our destination
Finally tied up at the western end of Royal Victoria Dock
And time for a celebratory drink for the participants
Royal Victoria Dock to Paddington Basin
21 January 2008
The flotilla at the west end of the Royal Victoria Dock
Preparing to depart
And they're off!
Looking back as we proceed down the Victoria Dock, the Dome is not far behind us
Replica Dutch barge Alicia, exhibited at the Boat Show, joins us for the trip
There were several narrowboat Boat Show exhibits in the dock...
... as well as some larger craft
Most of the exhibits took the quicker route home
The tail end of hte convoy in the Royal Albert Dock
Graham heads for the bows as we enter the King George V Lock...
... where HMS Exeter and two tugs await us
The rest of the boats follow us in
HME Exeter draws somewhat more than we do...
... and dwarfs the other boats
Another Boat Show exhibit, the rather misnamed wide boat "Skinie Mama" is anything but skinny
Plenty of room for more boats down the middle
Graham at the bow...
... while something behind has caught the attention of the rest of the crew
Moving out onto the River
Approaching the Woolwich Ferry
Unlaoding at the Tate & Lyle refinery
Approaching the Thames barrier
Galatea with some spray under the bows
Alicia and the Dome
Entering the calmer waters of Bow Creek
Around the first bend in Bow Creek, and we are heading for the Dome again!
The site of the Pura Foods maragraine factory, now being redeveloped. Compare this with the 2006 view
Passing under the DLR viaduct
A succession of bridges
And another
Entering Bow Locks
The tide is higher than the retained level in the non-tidal section, so having locked down through Bow Locks on our outward trip, we now lock down again back to the level where we started
Liz and Helen looking pensive as we lock through, with Major waiting behind
Approaching Three Mills
Old Ford Locks, complete with duck ramp
Graham and Elaine
Onto the Hertford Union, we thought the lock was empty until the gates opened
Ernest and Fulbourne running side by side between the locks
Cast iron balance beam
Onto the Regents Canal, Kingsland Basin through the bridge on the right
This artistic joke works better when passing boats are not stirring up the water surface
Approaching a lock
An anti-vandal measure? The bar is welded to the nuts
City Road Basin
Approaching City Road Lock
Approaching Islington Tunnel...
... and emerging at the other end
Battlebridge Basin
St Pancras Basin - home to some of the boats which accompanied us on this trip.
From St Pancras we continued in the dark and in the rain to Paddington Basin, and a welcome pint in the Warwick Castle