A once in a lifetime thing ....

The big trip! Limehouse Basin to Teddington on the tidal Thames.

I was much too tired after yesterday's cruise out on the tidal Thames past the Thames Barrier and back, to lie awake worrying about how things would be today.

I was a bit concerned when I realised from the timetable that Rock n Roll was to leave the lock, manoeuvre  round boats tied on the inner pontoon and tie up on the outer pontoon for the next locking to join us, after which we would enter the river proper; I was assured that this would work ok.

Ok.

It was about 12:30 and we were due in the lock by 13:10 - I'd put a load of washing on, just a quick half-hour programme; not sure if that had anything to do with what happened though at 12:50, but I dread to think what the outcome would have been if we'd only switched the engine on as we were due to leave our mooring and would have been out on that tide!

Hubby George and our crew Paul and Di were doing the final preparations ready to cast off the ropes when they heard squeal and lots of bangs and the smell of burning!!

OMG!

 George turned the key to stop the engine - that didn't work!  Quickly lifting the deck boards, removing the engine covers (Beta 43) he accessed the manual cut-off and killed the engine, seeing at the same time that two fan belts had shredded and were in bits all over the place.  Fortunately we always carry spares.

Thank goodness!

I ran down the quayside to NB Doris Katia as they were just leaving the jetty to inform Andrew Phasey that we could not proceed in the first locking; George was replacing the belts and hoped to be ready in 20-30 minutes; NB No Problem took our place in the lock and we were to take their lock at 13:30.

Never have 2 fan belts been stripped off and replaced in so short a time. Engine now singing sweetly we left our mooring and entered the lock with NBs Balmaha and Dragonfly; we would be the last to leave.

Ready and waiting (courtesy of Sue NB No Problem)

  The Lock Keeper was not too happy in allowing us to leave the lock and make the manoeuvre described above; he suggested to Andrew Phasey that he had a rethink resulting in the 3 lead boats exiting the lock entrance first, followed by No Problem from the outer pontoon and then us 3 boats directly from the lock.

Ok.

The river was busy ... to say the least!  Although we'd been informed at the Friday night briefing that river traffic had been warned that 24 narrowboats would be in convoy yesterday and today, at the moment they were not slowing down any and a couple were going past as the first boats started to exit the lock entrance. I untied Rock n Roll when it was our turn to go, stepped back onto the boat, zipped down the cratch (covering the front of the boat) covers, stepped into the saloon and closed the doors.

Yesterday the galley cupboards opened in the swell so today I decided to put a couple of elastic bands around the knobs to prevent all my crockery from being flung far and wide should we meet much turbulence today.

It was as I was doing this that it happened ...

I was flung backwards and all the cupboards and doors all over the boat flew open; my little boxes containing my jewellery flew too spreading the earrings etc., far and wide.  The tools George had used to replace the fan belts rolled across the dining table onto the floor and books scattered everywhere.

I was scared!!

I took a long drink of cold water (rattling the glass against my teeth) before venturing out onto the deck to see what was happening. Rock n Roll was living up to her name - rocking and rolling like no-ones business and George was intent on controlling it.

The following 5 photographs are by courtesy of NB Fulbourne, Peter Scott and permission to publish by Tim Lewis - thank you very much - they describe what happened perfectly.

 As we left the lock entrance and started to turn to the right, the wash from a passing clipper has caught us broadside and tipped us by about 30 degrees!

 George is turning the tiller into the wake - it's better to ride the wake nose-on instead of from the side ...

 ... still turning into the wake ...

 ... and the turbulence gradually reduces ...

... and all is well now as we resume our place in the convoy.

First glimpse of Tower Bridge ...

... with the BT tower in the distance ...

... not the central pier for us though ...

... the convoy goes through on the right.

Thames barges lined up just before Tower Bridge.

Looking up as we pass under ...

... and coming through (from NB Balmaha's point of view).

London City Council glass building on the left and the Shard on the right.

The Tower of London ...

... with the gherkin behind.

That clipper is coming out fast ...

... and doesn't slow down much either.  I was thinking that I would prefer to be inside, but George reminded me that if I wasn't on deck I couldn't take photos - and that would be tragic too, so I stayed.

HMS Belfast is the one on the right.

London buses on Southwark Bridge with the dome of St Paul's on the right.

The Golden Hind

He's going fast!

Shakespear's Globe Theatre

St Paul's Cathedral through the Millennium Bridge

Yet another clipper!

St Paul's ...

... as we pass through Blackfriars Bridge

Someone's daily work has to continue whilst we cruise!

Here comes another one ...

... and a trip boat too - just look at that wake!

Look at those lovely roof tops ... they are behind ...

... Horse Guard's Parade - I took this from the bridge on October 8th 2009 and have had it printed on canvas; it hangs on the wall in Rock 'n' Roll - I love it.

Passing under Waterloo Bridge looking towards Hungerford Bridge, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Ministry of Defence (MOD) building

Cleopatra's Needle

errrrm, the London Eye, I think! ...

... with County Hall behind and yet another clipper ...

... coming this way ...

... it's about this time (14:26) that I really am getting agitated, I was thinking that I'd get a cushion and sit in the corner of the rear deck to wait until it was all over - one way or another - the deck felt as if it kept disappearing below my feet.  Pull yourself together I thought - get on with it!

Portcullis House - the MP's residences.  There are apparently underground tunnels that lead from here ...

... to here - the Houses of Parliament - you can see the riverside rest areas, the red awning is for the House of Lords and the green for the ordinary MP's ...

... and this is us in the distance (courtesy NB Blamaha) ...

... and from behind us!

Lambeth Palace

A nice view of Westminster Bridge, the Eye and County Hall

Not sure what buildings these are - but I'm sure they're historic!

The convoy continues under Victoria Railway Bridge ...

... towards Battersea Power Station ...

... and the Chelsea Flower Show ground on the other side of the river 

A very pretty boat indeed.

Approaching Albert Bridge - unusual pastel colours here - pink and white ...

... and pale green and lemon - I like it!

The Skipper is having a great time!

Battersea Railway Bridge with it's opulent gold leaf scrolling

We soon see the house boats - this is a lovely one!

I can't imagine that this old building will be left derelict for much longer ...

... and the convoy cruises on ...

Ness on NB Balmaha is taking a picture of us ...

... and this is that picture - thanks Ness!

Rock 'n' Roll approaching Wandsworth Bridge ...

... and again from Balmaha's viewpoint.

NB Balmaha, NB Bimble and NB No Problem far centre.

cooooo!

The cupolated building of Harrods Furniture Depository on the south bank.

Rowers and their support vessels abound on this stretch of the river

NB No Problem in the distance ...

... and a very colourful group of canoeists.

An absolutely fabulous Art Nouveau building

The convoy approaching Kew Railway Bridge ...

... Rock n Roll on the right having passed under Kew Railway Bridge
(photo Courtesy of No Problem - thanks Sue) ...

... and there she is - Sue at the helm of No Problem.

NB Balmaha passing under the arch of Kew Bridge

Brentford Lock - of the 18 boats that set out from Limehouse Basin today 9 will turn off the Tidal Thames here ...

... whilst the rest of the convoy continue to Teddington

ahhh .... Molly loves Paul!

Sue, Vic and Wendy on the deck of No Problem

Syon House - the London home of the Duke of Northumberland

Not sure what this is, but it looks god and I like the colours!

Flippin ek!  What's going on here?

... well, it's one way to get around!

Feeding the swans near Kew

Approaching Richmond Bridge ...

... how lovely - a real summer scene ...

... taking advantage of the river too.

Here we are at Teddington Lock - the end of our tidal Thames Cruise Weekend.

Into the lock we go ...

... there's Balmaha - Mo is having to hold that smile on his face!

... and the lock keeper too.

Us, courtesy of No Problem.

A full lock of 9 narrowboats of assorted sizes just before 6pm
... again by courtesy of No Problem.

20 minutes to 9; we've just eaten and are now relaxing ...

... these are the views from our galley window - very peaceful indeed.

As my title said - A once in a lifetime thing - for me it was.  The first hour or so I was scared to death and will never do that trip again - but that's not to say I'm sorry that I did it today.  However, the stretch of river between Brentford and Teddington was absolutely delightful and I will certainly do that again - so long as I can chose the calmest of days.

The crew of Rock 'n' Roll would like to thank Andre Phasey of the St Pancras Cruising Club for all the hard work in organising and over-seeing this fantastic weekend.

And finally, if you have managed to scroll through and perhaps even read to this point of my blog, you have my admiration for your perseverance!!