Paddington

The weather was again cold and overcast with the occasional short interval of light rain. We set off around 9.30 and backed up a the short distance to Bulls Bridge Junction and continued on down the Paddington Branch. It would, at best, take us until nearly 2 o'clock to reach Paddington Basin, later with a lunch stop. At this time of year that meant that we might well be unable to find a space as many are let out on winter moorings until the end of the month.

Bulls Bridge Junction

It is a long, level pound and we came this way three times last year so there are not likely to be many surprises but we will have to look out for anything new to report!

As we set off a rainbow spanned the main line northwards.

The former waterways depot has long been derelict and a rather sad site. There were several people working on site having cleared quite a space. The house has not been demoloshed so perhaps there is room for hope that it might be restored and brought back into useful service.

A feature of the suburbs along this way is the fascination - is it cultural? - for feeding the birds. Some people seem to bring very large quantities, bagfuls - it is easy to spot tme from some distance as they naturallly gather a large flock of swans, geese, gulls and other birds.

Sadly, this feeding only encourages what are almost vermin, the Canada geese are especially unwelcome as they force out many other indigenous species of a less aggressive nature. Their droppings on the towpath can in places be quite oppressive.

One lady even stood next to the multi-lingual signs which expressly forbid the feeding of birds!

Through the Porthole mural

A number of murals created from waste materials have been created by local artists working with school children. Many of them decorate the concrete bridges.

We are frequenrly reminded that the communities of this part of London are very multi-faith with the various religious building being quite prominent.

Hovis Lorry

In several places there are food processing factories and as we approached the former Lyons Dock there was a stromg yeasty smell in the air. This was confirmed a short while later with the sight fo a Hovis deleivery vehicle leaving the works.

Most of the larger boats along this branch are clearly very static - some have been built up so much that they would not make it under the first bridge! However, this boat was towpath-side so must sometimes move. It must be about the maximum dimensions for this canal.

We caught up with another boat that at times moved very slowly - so just after crossing the North Circular we pulled in for lunch. Christine's latest soup, along with a freshly baked-off sunflower baton from the Co-Op, were most welcome.

We same this unused apartment block last year and it is even more decrepit now. Sad, as there is such a shortage of affordable housing and places like this are allowed to stand ruined.

Just before Little Venice we spotted a fuel boat coming the other way and signalled for him to stop - we came alongside and were able to fill our tank as well as take a bag of logs. In this weather we are getting through those we brought with us at an alarming rate! (Mike only managed to take a photo after we had finished and were on our ways again!)

This houseboat in Little Venice was looking the worse for wear last years but seems to have something of a makeover in the meantime.

Just after turning down towards Paddington Basin we spotted the sad remains of a boat that caught fire about a month ago and caused the flyover to be closed whuilst the fire brigade takled the blaze. Forunately no-one was harmed in the event but someone's home is now totally destroyed.

When we reached the basin itself there were no available moorings - we suspect that many are occupied by winter moorers and some were moored so that they took up two spaces. With much regret we had to turn around and make our way back the way we came. In the other direction, the nearest moorings are below Camden Locks, with no certainty of space available at this time of year. As a result we turned left at the juunction and retraced our steps for about twenty minutes before pulling in for the night. at least we did not have to go all the way back to Kensal Green which can sometimes be the case.

14.8 miles - 0 locks