Sorry but another bitch of the day.

It's time for a moan again! Last night we had almost nodded off when suddenly a boat engine roared into life with a monotonous brum dum dum, brum dum dum. Looking at the clock and groaning as it was 10.45pm, we listened for all of 10 minutes before Ian shot out of bed, put on his clothes, and marched to the boater with all guns blazing. After a few angry exchanges the boater eventually apologised saying his low battery alarm had started bleeping so thought it a good time to charge up the batteries! It turned out to be the dutch barge behind and, once he had complied to our wishes, we finally had a reasonably night sleep until, that is,......  5.55am when we again were rudely woken out of our slumber by a large group of elephants walkers coming past our bedroom window talking so loud that it must have woken the whole neighbourhood. So I ask for a little cooperation from all those that enjoy the great outdoors, be it walking, cycling, running etc, please please keep the noise down early in the morning. The boats you pass are mostly occupied with people trying to sleep and all of us appreciate a bit of quiet last thing at night or early in the morning. And here endeth the moan!!

So it's been quite a day for us as we cruised on pastures new. Having left the mooring at Hackney Marsh very early because of those walkers, we cruised past the junction of the Hertford Union canal and continued on the river Lee.

Hertford Union Canal

One of our aims was to try to get in to see the Olympic Park. Unfortunately the only thing accessible at present is the park and Copper Box. The City Mill river which surrounds the Olympic park is blocked off by booms and wont be opened till at least 2014. We descended Old Ford Lock and had another splendid view of the Olympic stadium.

Approaching Old Ford Lock

Boom across the northern end of City Mill river

And the southern end.

  Abandoning the idea of stopping we continued towards Limehouse cut and had to negotiate ongoing work on the Lee. We have no idea what they are trying to achieve. No doubt we will find out when we return in a couple of years time!

Limehouse Cut is to the right.

 Once on the Cut the most noticable thing about it is the lack of boats. It is in fact a pleasure to cruise and we also got a good view of the Orbit. Bow locks looked magnificent and on hind sight I wished we had stopped to have a look. Maybe next time.

Can anyone tell me what the wicker type structure is. I wondered if it was anything to do with the Olympic torch.

Good view of the Orbit, I believe it is now a restaurant.

Bow lock takes you down to the tidal Thames.

Looking towards Limehouse lock from the basin.

Boris bikes.

Murals on houses near to the Olympic stadium

 Once on the start of the Regents canal I almost wished we had gone down the Hertford Union Canal. In my opinion it's one of the worse canals on the system. Dirty, dismal and very run down. Couldn't wait to get to Victoria park where we wanted to stop but before we got to moor, Baron the diesel boat happened to arrive and, as we badly needed diesel, we pulled alongside. I could see a gap in the long line of boats and kept fingers crossed that nothing would come to pinch it. Nothing did and the gap was long enough for us to fit in. Only downside we cant get anywhere near to the bank, not a problem for us but Jade's having a view issues with her back and I didn't want it aggravated by making her leap across, so out came the doggie plank again which worked a treat.

I'm hanging on for dear life to Baron while Ian sorts out the diesel.

As you can see, well away from the side.

Canal gone green.

Opps forgot my And finally:-

A cormorant theme

This photo was taken by Ian.