The Grand Canal Tour 2014. Bow Creek.

It was time for the Bow Creek cruise the next day, as the Thames and Isle of Dogs cruise had to be aborted because the wind was too strong at 17mph, a useful thing to know for future cruising. We attempted to assemble the boats in the right order above Bow Locks, which only had one bottom paddle operational - not a good advert for CRT! I moved up to moor when the waiting boats moved off the mooring, but was caught by the wind, so did a 360deg turn and got back in the right direction, only to be waived in by Barry, who cleared it with the lock keeper.

It was wide and deep out there, with a strong wind blowing. There were industrial buildings on both sides and no housing whatsoever. In one area there was a container type crane for concrete tunnel segments, which we surmised were for the nearby crossrail project. The creek was very windy and windy, as in draughty and curly wurly, so we were changing direction most of the time.

My intrepid crew.

Cross Rail deliveries?

 

 

That is south of the river.

Time to turn around.

Eventually, we could see the O2 Arena and the Lloyds lightship moored up and knew it was time to turn around and head back to Bow Locks. It was a pity we could not do the Thames route, but the weather was promising for a trip up to Brentford the following day. After Bow Locks, we turned down Limehouse cut and moored up in the marina. We now had an afternoon to fill an Barry suggested the Docklands Museum, which was well worth a visit. Back at the boat we decided to eat out, but where? Eventually, we decided that we had passed a Wetherspoons on the way to the museum, but it was further than any of us imagined, almost at the museum, in fact. On the way back to the marina, a visit to The Grapes was not to be missed. A very satisfying end to  an interesting day.