A late start - for a whole variety of reasons and, despite the fact that we had to moor a little away from the bank, we had a good night's sleep (with extra for some). We did manage to set off by 10 o'clock but at the first bridge Mike popped to a nearby shop that he had just been told about and we had not found on previous visits here. Although he did pick up milk and a Turkish bread (flat) they did not take newspaper tokens so there one and only copy that we wanted was still there after we had left!
It was a grey day throughout but kept dry until just as we were mooring for the night.
We were re-tracing our steps back to the junction with the Hertford Union, the alternative cut across the the Grand Union (Regents Canal). We were not sure what this chap was filming but it looked as if it was this assorted rowing crew.
We were heading to Paddington Basin, more in hope than expectation as all the winter moorings along the way were still very full of those over-staying on their permits, sometime three deep from the bank. However, we knew that we did have enough time if that proved impossible, to continue on out of central London and there were certainly be places to moor after a couple of hours at the most.
Just as we approached the Olympic Stadium - still be worked on to convert it to a permanent use and looking rather misty - we turned right at the junction and immediately began to ascend the three locks on this section.
A Canadian couple watched us through each lock in this flight - their son has now moved to London and lives nearby. They had not seek a lock operated before.
We started to see a proliferation of yellow danger signs (sorry about the photo quality!) which warn boaters not to hammer mooring pins into the ground as high voltage cables run underneath the paving stones of the towpath. Last year a nearly serious accident occurred when someone did just this - boaters had got into the habit of extending the mooring facilities in this manner, especially on stretches with no soft edge.
An unusual sculpture decorates one otherwise anonymous housing estate.
At the end of the long straight we were at the junction with the main line, shortly after which we came to Old Ford Lock. A widebeam boat was already going up but, as only one paddle was working, it took them some time. By the time they had left and we had prepared for our turn another boat arrived and shared the next three locks. They had just left their winter mooring at Victoria Park and were in search of somewhere to hide for the coming weeks! It seems that they, probably along with many of the other boats we have passed, have yet to realise that CRT plan to take a different approach this year and it may be less easy to dodge enforcement.
In some ways sadly, but this graffiti would not have been here when we passed this way last year.
Christine had been wondering how the bridge graffiti painters manage to access the spaces they decorate. Then Mike asked if she could explain how they did this one on the tower block..
The sign here says that the work here is to create some new residential mooring called Blue Bell. This is part of the multi-pronged new London Moorings strategy which combines more rigorous enforcement with investment in new mooring both for residential and visitor boaters. Given the number of long term stayers we have seen it is perhaps doubtful whether the currently insatiable demand for apparently low cost housing will do other than soak up the new moorings and still attract large numbers of those pushing the boundaries of what might be considered Continuous Cruising or simply over-staying on short term moorings not in winter.
Boaters along this stretch do have to get used to being the centre of attention for those with cameras, either mobile phones or those with a 'real' camera. At least she smiled moments later when she realised that I was taking a picture of her takling a picture of us.
We left our companion boat just before Islington tunnel as they needed to fill up with water, but we had a little wait as there were already two boats coming the other way. This gave Mike a chance to chat to a family group and let two very young ones show that they could pull a boat!
Some towpath repairs seriously narrowed the access but several cyclists took one clear look at the sign - and carried on regardless.
We were delayed at St Pancras Lock as it was full, with one top gate open and a large boat apparently waiting to come down. Christine was assured that they would not be long but nothing happened. Then another boat arrived, claiming to be a trip boat but we were not sure how official that is, but the steerer was not brooking any delay as he had a date with customers a bit further down! the delay did mean that we were caught up by another boat - for once a genuine cruiser - who stayed with us to the top level.
Two years ago, the latticework for a former gasholder was re-instated as a landmark - it had been dismantled and taken away for restoration. At first it was quite a sight until new apartment blocks sprang up around it, dwarfing its scale. Now it seems that a building is to be created inside the frame - although the web site is surprising bereft of detail other than a few pictures of the canal in former times.
Much of the outdoor market at Camden Lock has been demolished - we will have to find out what is happening but just above a lot of stalls are crammed into a space that formerly only held a few (as we recall). Although there were some onlookers at the middle lock - once the most popular, there were crowds at the top look to make up for it.
We felt like one of the caged specimens as we passed London Zoo (ZSL) with people looking at us from a hide!
Not much further, after the shorter Maida Vale tunnel we reached Rembrandt Gardens (where nb Waiouru, another blogger on our watch list was moored and we stayed on our last trip) and we turned down the arm to Paddington Basin with diminished hopes (it also started to rain), especially as we came down the first part which was very full with what looked like local boats. Thus it was that we were astounded when rounded to corner to the pontoons and found two good spaces free (and another shorter space). The other main one was occupied by evening. At least we will have the chance to decide whether to visit anywhere in London tomorrow and the first part of Sunday - we really should be starting back on Sunday afternoon if we are to reach Packet Boat by Monday afternoon. We will need a bit of time to tidy up if we are to spend time at Windsor on Tuesday.
9.9 miles - 11 locks
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