Into East London

Another really hot night ended with another hot morning. We walked the dogs and then breakfasted under the shade of the bimini before packing up and heading back to Little Venice. We wanted to visit Portobello Market, but as far as we could tell, the street market featured in the film Notting Hill, doesn't operate on a Sunday. So, we decided to head for Camden, the market and the tourists!

Little Venice in the sunshine

We passed through Little Venice and headed past all the highly desirable moorings in Maida Vale, and into the 272 yard long Maida Hill tunnel.

Heading under the cafe into the tunnel

The exit looks a long way off

Blinding bright light as we near the end

We emerged, without incident bar a few drips on our heads, into a different world. At Little Venice the grand Union Canal changes into the Regents Canal, and the scenery changes significantly on the other side of the tunnel as you enter Regents Park. The first section of the canal passes grand houses and embassies with beautifully manicured gardens, and passes under what is popularly known as 'Blow up Bridge'. A barge carrying gunpowder was passing under this bridge when it spectacularly exploded, taking the bridge with it. The bridge was subsequently re-built, but the columns were replaced back to front, and you can still see the indentations made by the ropes of horse drawn barges, but they are on the wrong side of the columns!

A canoe tour party

Grand Regents Park residence

Blow Up Bridge

The scenery changed again as we entered London Zoo, passing between the Snowdon Aviary and animal pens.

The Snowdon Aviary

A short distance further took us to Cumberland basin, where the canal takes a right angle turn to the left, in front of a fabulous Chinese restaurant boat.

Entering Cumberland Basin with camera crew at front of boat

Harriet in the sunshine

Angela in the sunshine and me asleep at the 'wheel'

Dan in the sunshine

As we turned the sharp corner which takes you into a short tunnel, we met a wide beam coming the other way, prompting a rapid reverse from us. We then entered and met a small boat with musicians playing to their passengers.

Musical boat

These guys were making beautiful music

Moving on into Camden, we hoped to find a mooring, but they are very popular and today was no exception. So, we decided to head into the first of the 3 locks here, and possibly walk back if we could find anywhere further on to moor.

Approaching Camden top lock

Angela and Dan filling the lock

Harriet and Lola

Crowds of people visiting Camden market

Harriet and Dan

We managed to moor between the top two locks, where we would not hinder other canal traffic, and A, D&H went to have a look at the market, while I watched over the dogs and boat. Camden was teeming with tourists and local residents out to enjoy the sunshine. There was a constant stream of people asking questions about the boat and where we were going. When we were all back together, we had a bite to eat, and then set off for King's Cross, where Dan and Harriet would leave us to return to Ramsgate. We have really enjoyed their company and apart from anything else, Angela will sorely miss the help with the locks!

Meat Porters Sculpture in Kings Cross, identical to the one in Harlow

The canal in King's Cross

A cute bull

D&H wave goodbye from the road bridge near the station

We decided that we would not stay where we were moored, but would press on towards Victoria Park in Hackney where the dogs would have a bit of space to play in.

Late afternoon sun over the canal, just before Islington tunnel

We passed through the 960 yard long Islington tunnel, having waited for a few minutes to let a boat coming the other way come through. You have to look into the tunnel to make sure nothing is coming before entering - you don't want to meet anything 500 yards into the tunnel which is only wide enough for a single boat! We made it out into the sunshine again without incident.

Building in Hackney with faces of residents

Endless inflatable craft to dodge

Interesting mushrooms on office roof

The locks seemed to get more and more crowded with people enjoying themselves with picnics, BBQs, drinking and sunbathing. Every time we needed to do anything to a lock, we had to ask people to move so that we didn't squash them with the boat or knock them down with the beams of the gates. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, joining in helping with the gates and generally having a good time. We also encountered lots of people bobbing about in inflatable dingies holding glasses of beer or wine and moving haphazardly about the canal! We arrived at Victoria Park, but were unable to find anywhere to moor - it was very crowded with people on land and with boats. So, we decided that we would turn into the Hertford Canal and see if we could stop in a place we had used before. Just before turning, we spotted a space a little further up the river, and here we are for the night. There is some kind of ledge below water and so we have had to deploy our wheelbarrow wheels to hold us away from the bank a bit. There are a lot of people walking about on the bank here at midnight, but hopefully it will quieten down soon. It is still incredibly hot - 27.3c in the boat right now!

Our boat has wheels

Tonight's mooring

Tomorrow, we plan to travel along the Hertford canal to re-join the River Lee and head north towards Harlow.