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Ken plus Sheila and The Thames reach London
The Thames started in fields near Cirencester in the Cotswolds and grew and grew as we walked beside its banks along the long distance Thames Trail to pass through the first lock at Lechlade and the last lock at Richmond, The Henley Mile, to eventually leave London through the Thames Barrier and beyond to the partly submerged London Stone off the Isle of Grain to reach the sea at Whitstable and our walk took in all these important landmarks in the river's journey .
This journey has been stunning with its fantastic scenery, interwoven with rich history and a story in every village and town. There is no doubt that the River Thames is a significant waterway through England.
The river has been an important trade and transport route since prehistoric times. London's fame and fortune is due its river. All through the Middle Ages the Thames was one of London's main highways.
A night shot of Tower Bridge from St Katherine's Dock
Looking down on our footpath around the O2 from a gondola.
The Shard in low cloud but still showing its own Roman Candle!
Trinity House and the tall building is the Garden in the Sky, which can be visited, free of charge when booked. - 38 floors up.
Yes, i know, everyone takes this shot, if they can find it and it is spectacular at night.
(Thanks Terry and Charlotte xxxx)
We had a spot of lunch in the Sky Garden to celebrate our completion of the Thames Trail and they gave us a gherkin in our salad. The chef in the tall building on the left must have been influenced by the view from his kitchen window over the building on the right.
Todays competition. Why did they name 30 St Mary Axe the Gherkin? Ummmn
Buzzing and vibrant even at night
Compare the view above with the young Thames below as a house-boat has hardly enough room to navigate.
Work in progress. To be completed
Meanwhile, back in London, there are footpaths to walk and bikes to hire
Hire charge £1.65 per 30 minutes - Tempting
its all done on an App. Open the App.
Book your location and Turn up
This was so tempting but the reality is that we were frightened enough on two feet crossing the road looking out for traffic. Cycling along a busy road was a pedal stroke too far.
We resumed our walk at Richmond. Blue sky. Blue river. Red anorak
Good old Richmond Bridge
Who would guess that a river so tranquil could get so busy in just a few miles
Anyone with a basic sense of direction would know which way to turn on reaching a riverbank from the Richmond railway station.
Neither way seemed right to me so I had to ask a postman!
The answer was a bit alarming for me because I "knew" London was to the left and he told me we had to go to the right. The thing is, where we joined the riverbank, the Thames was wobbling all over the map and it took us north east at this point.
Richmond Lock and Weir is what is known as a half tide weir and lock, owned and operated by the Port of London Authority, the facility is used to maintain the upstream river level at no less than five feet and nine inches below datum line.
A lock as shown below enables boats to continue travelling up or down river when the weirs are in place.
It was so pretty and yet within the London boundary. Church at Syon Park
Woohee - a diversion to see Brentford Football Club, my lifelong love. Red anorak and black trousers, - ready for the call-up!
Under the Crane legs with Canary Wharf in the background.
Here is an up-market floating hotel permanently moored.
My photography tutor told me to make sure I have something in the foreground for the eye to rest on. Here is a mooring Tee.
Here Sheila stands in front of a fence whilst Canary Wharf leans to match her angle!
And here some planted reed grass.
and here a very large anchor around which there is space to sit.
This looks quite incongruous
For a fee, you can walk up on the outside of the O2 roof to its peak. You are strapped into a harness. The black line over the white roof is the trail and there are some people coming down off the climb just above the tree foliage. Well done them!
Reflections on the plentiful glass we passed.
Glass on the O2 and Stone Pillars at the
Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich
Statue of King Edward 2 at Greenwich and lo and behold it even has its own website.
Beyond Greenwich, old mixes with new
This picture is more interesting than it looks.
in the background, there is a shaped structure with a window
and that is Pontoon Dock Station on the Docklands Light Railway.
The shaped hedges in the foreground are set within the memorial gardens leading down to the Thames Barrage.
and finally - journeys end at The Thames Barrier at low tide.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
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