Hackney

We woke to discover that the battery management panel was not working - and also that Mike's attempt to change the clock on the heating timer had not worked! Whilst the latter was soon (ish!) fixed - the controller is about the most unfriendly ever seen - we could do nothing about the Sterling unit. We had intended anyway to return back to the Springside Marina for a top up of diesel and we enquired about the possibility of an electrician to look at our system. Unfortunately none was available.

Mooring at Hackney Marshes

However, we needed the fuel and so Mike turned the boat around - although the navigation looks much wider than the length of the boat, there was barely six inches to spare and the last bit of the turn had to be done by pulling the bow around by rope. Whilst the bow fender was easily accessible, Mike replaced a broken chain link which Christine had spotted a few days ago.

It was a brilliant sunny day - again - as we cruised back along now familiar territory, winded at the marina and took on fuel. After a cup of coffee we made the return trip - that was all the cruising for today as we moored in exactly the same spot as before. At least we know where to point the satellite dish!

Next came a walk up to the nearest shopping street - all small shops, many of them ethic in speciality including a Caribbean Fish shop! We eventually tracked down most of what we were looking for - including a loaf of bread from the specialist deli shop that Peter had recommended.

Old Filter Bed

After a long lunch break we took a walk back along the towpath (with a diversion for a bridge reconstruction site) to take a look at the Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve. at one time this was an important link in the water supply chain for much of north London. Water was extracted from a bit further up the river and piped down to this filtration plant which helped to reduce the prevalence of cholera that was for a long time a major problem.

The site closed several decades ago and has been allowed to mature as a nature reserve although the special filter materials were removed and re-used in another water treatment plant.

Modern Stone Circle

At some stage, a number of large stones were arranged as if they were an ancient stone circle. we could also see the flow over the nearby weir.

Back on the main Hackney Marsh playing fields we could easily see the Olympic site on the not too distant horizon.

Whilst Mike continued to 'do things' with the laptop, Christine opted for a walk along the towpath in the opposite direction, going as far as the junction with the Hertford Union Canal.

Not only did she get a good close up view of the main stadium site, but also the intense security - both the strong fencing and the continuous patrols.

Although there has been a lot of tidying up of the environment, some local people still manage to make their own statements with large scale graffiti!

On the way back she took a detour through a small woodland which was created about twenty years ago as part of a major road project - there were already enough football pitches it seems.

3 miles - 0 locks