CAPTAIN'S LOG - WEEK 15

WEEK 15

Monday 11th June

After a leisurely breakfast James, Mum and I headed off to the Tate Modern along the river. We got the bus to St Paul's Cathedral and walked across Millennium Bridge and into the Tate. A quick wander round the ground floor part by the shop was shortly followed by us  heading up to the sixth floor for coffee with a fantastic view over the Thames. After a short rest it was off to look at the exhibits in the Tate then getting the bus back to Paddington Basin and relaxing before heading to the station for Mum to get her train home.

James and Mum on Millennium Bridge

Still on the bridge with the Shard and Tower Bridge behind

Tuesday 12th June

This was the day when we headed out on the tidal Thames on 'Chance' with Doug and James. We had a fantastic day and enjoyed every minute of the ten hours we spent with them. James and I left them at Hampton Court and got the bus into Richmond and then the tube, with a change at Earl's Court, back to Paddington, arriving back at LJ just gone 1am. Thank you Doug and James for a truly fantastic day. 

Looking a bit choppy

Tranquility with a slightly larger boat behind

Tower Bridge

Not everyday you get this view of it

James and Doug

Wednesday 13th June

Paddington Basin - Kensal

2.5 miles

An early start for us as we had to be out of the Basin by 7:00am due to a charity Dragon Boat race event. We left just before 7am and were nearly the last boat out (apart from the one we think security use for storage, and another broken down one!). After stopping off at Little Venice to top up the water (with an inconsiderate moorer on the water point) we headed back to Kensal for a restful afternoon.

An empty Paddington Basin

And the other end

Thursday 14th June

James and I headed off to Greenwich late morning and due to some diversion we couldn't get our connecting bus so we went the long way round taking nearly two hours! We had a look round the exhibitions there but decided not to go into any of the places that needed paying for as we didn't really have the time to appreciate them before closing so we headed down to the Maritime Museum and had an interesting look around there, followed by a stroll to the Cutty Sark and then into the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames. Once the other side we hopped on a bus into Leicester Square and watch a couple of comedy acts in the Leicester Square Theatre. At only £5 a ticket it was excellent value. Afterwards it was yet another trip into China Town and then a couple of bus changes to get back to Kensal.

James relaxing at the Maritime Museum

Friday 15th June

A quiet day pottering around the boat.

Saturday 16th June

We decided not to go to Trooping the Colour but instead watch it on telly. It was amazing watching the RAF do their fly past on the telly as a couple of minutes later the planes were passing us, so we got to see them twice. Glad we decided to stay on LJ though as there had been some very heavy rain showers during the afternoon.

Sunday 17th June

Today it was off to Marylebone Summer Fayre. We got the bikes sorted and set off stopping off on the way past Little Venice to say hello and goodbye to Elly and Mick on Parisian Star, they were just on their way off to the Canal Museum Moorings. We continued off to Marylebone where we locked the bikes up and started to look around the many stalls, unfortunately the weather wasn't on side and as usual at this sort of thing the rain came. We managed a large hot dog and sat in the park watching the live bands, then out came the waterproof coats and we decided to call it a day returning back to LJ at Kensal just as the sun decided to come out.

TOTALS FOR WEEK

Cruising - 2.5 miles

Locks - 0

Tunnels - 0

OVERALL TOTALS

Cruising - 180.75

Locks - 103

Tunnels - 5

Bridges - 3