Monday 20 April 2015

Happy Birthday Dad!

Pulled out of Willow Tree Marina at one minute past six!  There was a frost on the boats so hats gloves and big jackets required.  We were surprised to see that as soon as we left the Marina the canal seemed to be much cleaner and generally felt more relaxed than the first stretch of the Paddington Arm.  We are both nursing injuries – Steve with his back – something to do with a rope the wind and a 16 tonne boat and me with my hand – something to do with a dodgy slacker and a runaway windlass! 

It was great to see London from the river – we went through 11 locks, Maida Hill Tunnel and Islington Tunnel and travelled 17 miles then moored at what we thought was a great spot at Victoria Park – there were about six lads on a boat (playing some music and having a couple of beers) then a few more arrived, we had a bit of lunch then a few more and few more lads arrived and some left.  We decided that this wasn’t where we wanted to be so pulled pins and set off again, through three more locks and another couple of miles and we arrived at the Olympic Village where there was a nice spot waiting for us at about 4pm. 

 

 

Frosty start.

 

Goodbye Willow Tree Marina - would recommend this Martina - really helpful staff.

 

Small entrance/exit - it's good that it is not that easy to get into!

 

Come on sunshine melt this frost.

 

Ballot Box Bridge

 

This building looks like it is going to fall into the canal - there is a huge crack between it and the one next door.

 

Wem-ber-ley!

 


The Aquaduct over the North Circular Road!

 

Kensal Rise Cemetery

 

 

Gasometers near Kings Cross

 

 

 

Harrow Road!

 

Mural made from litter!

 

Egyptian Goose

 

The café at Little Venice.

 

 

 

Entering Regents Park Canal.

 

Maida Hill Tunnel

 

We told these cotes that if they moved to the countryside they wouldn't need to use plastic to build their nest!

 

Regents Park.

 

 

 

I want to live here when I grow up!

 

Colebrook Dale Bridge at London Zoo

 

The Avery

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone for Chinese?

 

 

 

Blair, Bush and the Devil

 

Camden Lock.

 

 

 




 

The Ice Wharf - where Harry blows his wages on a Friday night!

 

 

 

 

 

In Camden Lock with Willow - can't believe it was them again - we followed them all they way from Kensal Rise!

 

 

 

I used to pass though St Pancras everyday but have never seen the lock before.

 

Look Andy and Tracy - it is the London Canal Museum - unfortunately there was nowhere to moor.

 

Going into Islington Tunnel

 

 

 

Come on Steve get back on otherwise I am going without you!

 

There is a Police diver down there at Kingsland Basin - apparently looking for the usual?

 

 

 

Three abreast going into Sturts Lock.

 


The Hertford Cut

 

Olympic Village

 

And again