Tidal Thames

So the big day had arrived for which we had had to do quite a bit of planning - a trip from Limehouse up the tidal Thames to Brentford. The preparations had included having to go on a course to be allowed to carry a Marine VHS radio which is madatory (although it turned out to be singularly unnecessary!) We were booked to go into Limehouse Lock at 14:30 as the optimum time today for the tide.

But first we had to get to Limehouse from Hackney. We had expected to take about two hours so set off in good time which was comforting when we arrived at Old Ford Lock to see a couple of BW staff looking at the operating mechanism. Although it was a slow operation, nothing was actually wrong but they had been sent to check the hydraulic oil level and were not sure how to do this!

Another example of Olympic-facing graffiti caught the photographer's eye.

Although not naturally scenic, sometimes the combination of developments with a bright blue sky creates a striking image.

Limehouse Basin

We were in very good time at Limehouse Basin - but as Mike was checking through the details from the BW instructions he realised that we were supposed also to have a life ring. A quick phone call to High Line established that they could supply one so postcode details were texted to Andrew who was on his way to join us (he planned to leave his car at Packet Boat and come down to Limehouse by train, tube and DLR) He duly arrived with a rather obvious addition to his baggage (wonder what his fellow tub travellers made of it?)

Filling Limehouse Lock

Eventually it was time to set off. The lock keeper was filling and emptying the lock several times to flush out accumulated debris but, just before half past two he opened the gates to let us in. As we were to go out on a rising tide (a bit after low tide) the drop in the lock was quite impressive.

The gates opened and we were left to venture out into the unknown.

As soon as we were out onto the tideway we had a good view back down to the Docklands developments a little further downstream in the opposite direction from our journey.

The waterside is an ever-changing mixture of new developments with some reminders of older building styles interspersed.

The all important landmark of Tower Bridge lies ahead and we opted to go under the main arch - fortunately there were none of the fast moving Clipper trip boats competing for the same space just at the right time. Although we had been warned about the wake of these boats, we were not as alarmed by them as we had perhaps anticipated.

Tower of London follows shortly afterwards.

Tower of London

We cannot possible show all of the bridges we passed under but here is the (in)famous Millennium Footbridge. between the Tate Modern and St Paul's.

Millennium Bridge

Approaching Westminster we passed Cleopatra's Needle on the Embankment.

Cleopatra's Needle

We could not ignore the photogenic London Eye - which two out of the three of us have been on.

London Eye

We had problems taking photos of parliament as the sun was, at this direction of the river, unhelpful but Christine did manage this one.

MI6 were no doubt more concerned about preparing for the Olympics than that we were photographing them!

Houses of Parliament

Unlike the Tate Modern which has long been converted to useful purposes the Battersea site has had various owners and is looking rather derelict with the main section now roofless.

MI6 (Babylon on Thames)

Derelict Power Station

There is very little industrial development now left along the water's edge but we did see this cement works as a rare example. Most sites are now given over to exotically shaped apartment blocks.

Cement Works

There is also the rubbish barge loading facility but at least some river users were not taking too close a look!

Fulham FC adjoins the river and the famous tribute to Michael Jackson is clearly visible.

Once past Westminster bridge most river users were mainly oarsmen but we did not have too  much issue with avoiding them (although this pair overtook us!)

We particularly liked this art deco building . . .

but also some more traditional ones.

The river was now very different in character - close to Kew Gardens.

Only ten minutes over the advised schedule we were able to report to London VTS that we were leaving the tideway and entering Brentwood locks.

Brentwood Junction

Finally, after passing through Thames Locks and the Gauging Locks we found a mooring spot just after the GSK Global Headquarters - almost the same spot as when we came by here two years ago.

GSK Headquarters

24.2 miles - 4 locks