The Tidal Thames, part 1 and some stats

Tuesday, 20 September 2011 20:45

Yesterday's blog gave you a taster of our very enjoyable cruise upstream on the Tidal Thames

Limehouse Lock opens at 13.55

Here are some more photos of our experience and journey stats ......

The Thames ahead of us upstream

It was a bit blustery, the sun peeped out but some of the cloud formations were spectacular. 

Choppy water

We were watched by patrons at the pubs, from trip boats passing, walkers on the banks and even on some of the bridges. 

The drinkers at The Prospect of Whitby refused to wave!

Judge Jeffries would have waved I am sure, if only to have drawn our attention to his victims chained below - ugh ... 

It did not seem very long before the vista of the Shard and Tower Bridge opened before us. In fact, it was just over 20 minutes. We were going well, with the flood tide carrying us along.

Tower Bridge ahead

There was a large sea going motor yacht moored just above Butlers Wharf, where Dickens' Bill Sykes met his demise in Oliver Twist. I wondered who had chartered it or if it was awaiting a rich passenger and family. However Aviva is not available for charter at this time - shame, but I can dream!

Thames Clipper passes Aviva below Tower Bridge

Through the middle arch of Tower Bridge

As we went through the middle arch of Tower Bridge, beyond the north bank stretched away, with Tower Pier, The Monument, Old Billingsgate Market and London Bridge. The Great Fire of London (1666) in Pudding Lane devastated this close built area.

The North Bank above Tower Bridge

Of course the Tower of London and the New City Hall are also landmarks immediately above Tower Bridge: one as ancient as English civilisation and scene of terrors, royal caprices and religious tensions; the other, new and brash but with a certain elegance: the new face of London government and Mayoral splendour!

The Tower of London

City Hall

The chop was up again as you can see - we passed HMS Belfast towering over this small RIB

We were ticking the bridges off now: plain London Bridge, Cannon Street Station Bridge, pretty Southwark Bridge, the "Wobbly Bridge" -  oops, I mean, Millennium Bridge, Blackfriars Rail Bridge (under repair) and ornate Blackfriars Bridge. We reached Blackfriars Bridge in 49 minutes - amazing. 

The Gherkin is another eccentric London building, striking in design and at 180 meters tall, visible from all over the place.

The Gherkin over Tower of London entrance

One of its rivals, but far higher, is The Shard, which is rapidly rising above the London skyline - it will be the tallest building in western Europe, a mere 310 meters high. It has a way to go yet and is set to become London's latest attraction.

The Shard

So now that we have reached the "arts and culture riverside", I will leave you to contemplate on sights yet to come - memories of The Bard, modern art and sculpture, music and exhibitions and then another highlight - the Palace of Westminster. 

Tidal River Thames, Limehouse Basin to Blackfriars Bridge
0 hours 49 minutes, 3.24 miles, 1 lock