Day 10 - The Thames Barrier Cruise (and that small boat HMS Illustrious)

Saturday 9th May 2009

With the very generous hospitality of the Cruising Association at Limehouse, we duly assembled on Friday evening at 19:00 prompt for the safety brief lead by Andrew Phasey (Vice Commodore of Saint Pancras Cruising Club).  As promised, the saftey brief was kept as short as possible so that we could partake of some Reverend James and an excellent bar meal.

Although a number of those present intended moving on to The Grapes, Bev and I decided to retire for the evening (as Bev was quite clearly a little apprehensive about the trip out on to the Thames having seen the boats on the river-side of the lock being thrown from side to side by the current, waves and backwash at the marina entrance.

Armed with the latest “hot off the press” edition of the London Tideway Handbook - Estuary Edition.  I discovered that the publication provides such useful information as Sound Signals (e.g. 5 short blasts = “You are not taking sufficient action to avoid me; or I do not understand your intentions are actions”) and Passing Through the Tames Barrier (call London Vessel Traffic Service on VHF Channel 14 asking for permission to pass through the barrier).

Just after 10:00, we set off from Limehouse Basin towards Bow Lock where we had to wait for the incoming tide to cover the washing machine before we would be let out on to the River Lea (aka Bow Creek).

Eric Naylor and Cherie just below Three Mills waiting to enter Bow Lock.

Sharing Bow Lock with Robert and Nicky on nb Tugby.

Mike Askin with Victoria rounding one of the last bends on Bow Creek before joining the Thames.

Passing Trinity House lightship moored at the entrance to the Thames.

Crossing the Thames with the O2 Arena (nee Millenium Dome) on the South Bank.

One of several helicopters from HMS Illustrious during their display along the Thames.

Now aim the pointy end between those two piers…

Cane you spare a cup of sugar Messrs Tate & Lyle?

Closely followed by Victoria

Returning upstream through the Barrage

The convoy returning to the O2 Arena with helicoptors providing the welcoming committee!

Old and new; Victoria and Canary Wharf

Pulled over by the River Police to help them with their enquiries!

I’ll race you to Tower Bridge

Royal Naval College at Greenwich

As the river starts to get rather choppy (worse to come!)

Bev at the helm sporting her new life jacket - the colour suits you

HMS Illustrious…

… which from this angle is smaller than Victoria!

Hey Bev, can we have a helicopter landing pad on our roof?

The start of even choppier waters…

Hold on tight…

Locking throughLimehouse with Cherie…

Squeeze in, there’s room for one more…

Leaving Limehouse Lock

Returning on the Grand Union with Canary Wharf in the distance.

Wanting to get home early tomorrow, we push on to Little Venice.  As we approached Camden Locks we had hoped that as it was after 19:00, the shops would be closed and the area quiet.  Quite the opposite as there were hundreds, possibly thousands of people relaxing, eating, drinking etc around the locks!

Fortunately, three locks done in text book format - not a single foot wrong, nothing falling in the water and not a single bump (phew!).

Once clear of Hampstead Road Locks, a quick photo of the hoards of people on he canal side.

Journey time: 10:00 - 20:30

Limehouse Basin, Bow Locks, River Thames, Thames Barrage, Limehouse Basin, Grand Union to Little Venice.

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