Monday 4 April 2016

Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April 2016

As we are killing time we thought we would stay in Limehouse for another night so just went for a walk on Saturday - another beautiful day until about 5pm when the heavens opened.

Sunday morning we set off at about 9.30am and completed the one and a half miles and 4 locks of the Regents Canal, heading up past the Hertford Union, that we had never done before, in fact we have never navigated the Regents Canal going upstream.  Last year we did it twice downstream.  Nice to see all the river birds sitting in their nests - I have only spotted one lot of babies so far - coots!

Here we are in the heart of the east end of London on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning - soooo busy - people walking, feeding the ducks, fishing, cycling and running not to mention all the "constant cruisers" moving around so as not to overstay their 14 days in any one place.  Today the average age of fellow chuggers was 25 years younger than us - normally it's 25 years older than us! We spoke to a few of them and most of them live on board and work in London.  They are moored up three abreast in many places.

We phoned ahead and booked the mooring space available at the London Canal Museum in Battlebridge Basin, just by Kings Cross.  We had to take it slow as they don't want you to arrive until 4.00pm just before the Museum closes as they like to keep the mooring free for boating visitors during opening hours!  We thought it would take us 3.5 hours to get here but with all the extra activity going on it took us 6 hours so we arrived just a little early.  When we booked in they told us that they are not open on a Monday so we could stay an extra night - very handy!

Resident moggie in Limehouse with his life jacket on!

Many parts of Commercial Road are quite grotty but in the side turnings there are some lovely terraces.

The Shard to the right.

Limehouse Tunnel to the left.

Sunday morning - leaving Limehouse Basin.

We've only been through one lock and already we need to check the prop!

That'll be what was holding us back.

Salmon Lane Lock - beautiful Lock House surrounded by high-rise blocks of flats

I enlisted the help of young Max at Mile End Lock - I needed the rest after having discovered that I had left the windlass at Johnson's Lock when we arrived here and had a to take a jog back for it - thankfully it was still there!

Passing the entrance to the Hertford Union.

Mummy keeping her eggs warm!

Some people grow plants others grow heads!

The Hotel Barge - I wonder if they are still getting bookings.

These lorry containers have been converted into living accommodation.

Towpath Cafe - I bet they love Sunny Sundays!

Through Islington Tunnel

We have had our photo taken at least 10 times today so thought I would take one back!

Arriving at the London Canal Museum.

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