Now for the benefit of our little "friends"from yesterday - here is the CRT sign that confirms the mooring arrangements
Last line of the top part -
Triple berthing is not permitted (maximum of 2 narrowboats or 1 widebeam boat only)
Can't be simpler than that - doesn't require too much counting or real knowledge - just the ability to read and of course know that it applies to everyone.
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| Not 2 narrowboats breasted up. |
It is not a case of not liking Londoners - I just simply do not like people who believe that they are better than others and have a right to do whatever they like.
Today we decided to head off to watch the London Marathon - the 35th "running" of the event and the last by Paula Radcliffe.
Train down to Tower Hill and masses of people all around, which must be the norm for the English public.
Still it was a fun time - everyone seemed to be having a good time and enjoying themselves.
Found a good position just before the 23 mile mark and got some shots of a few of the disabled athletes - their efforts no better/no worse than the professionals - perhaps more praiseworthy.
After that we moved down a bit further for a better view; not long after the leading group in the men's section came through
The fellow in the light blue top was the eventual winner, but just to be going that well would be good enough for me.
Superheroes mixing with mere mortals are always good and spiderman was certainly inside the top 50 runners.
We had thought that the women had gone through earlier - Diane googled it and it appeared that they had started an hour before the men, and that we may have missed Paula Radcliffe, but no sooner had we saw that, than a motorcycle with cameraman was in front of a group which included Ms.Radcliffe (below)
Even though the leaders were finished, marathons are about individual effort and performance; the race went on - thousands still beating out the rhythm on the road
The party atmosphere was there - at least for the spectators with bands along the way keeping the music flowing and encouraging all runners
We moved away as it made us feel a bit inadequate seeing all of these people far fitter than we were, so we headed over towards the Thames
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| Tower Bridge |
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| The Shard - why haven't they finished building this |
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| For Diane's favourite sister |
We then trained it down to Limehouse to have a bit of a look around down there - you really have to love the DLR - driverless trains; not the first time that we have experienced them either in England or elswhere - the announcements are more easily understood; the travel is more smooth - just having a nice little dig at Diane's cousin Phil who is a train driver on the Metropolitan line
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| If they are driverless, then why do they need windscreen wipers? |
After checking out the basin at Limehouse, the race was still going on around us, so a few more shots of competitors - this time the more zany ones was appropriate.
Let's remember that so many of the runners are doing this to help raise money for their nominated charities and the pain that they are going through to do this is deserving of the end result
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| notice the beard! |
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| There were a few of these Rhinos around |
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| Minions unite |
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| Big bird and friend - Diane |
A little further on we found where the course double-backed on itself and runners were a bit thicker on the ground
And the band played on - this time a band of drummers - putting out a very good beat
Back to a few of the stragglers - we need to encourage all people with a Welsh leaning - keep going girls -
And all good things must come to an end - somewhere the line is drawn and those behind this car have to move to the footpath.....
...before they get cleaned up, along with the lines marking the course.
We found a set of steps leading down to the Thames - at water level - the tide was out, so we couldn't resist the chance of a few photos...
Now with over 10,000 steps on the pedometer ourselves, and not having had lunch yet, we ourselves saw the need to start heading back - the nearest station was Shadwell - was a little way off, but we found it and used the Overground.
Still find it strange that the Police block off half the entry points to the stations and force everyone into a slow queue - that doesn't help move people away quickly from a crowded area - a bit like having a huge stadium try to empty with half the exits closed.
Amazing how everyone jams themselves into the carriages near to the platform entrance and others are near empty, we found a section at the front of the train occupied with only one other person and started a conversation without any problem, and he turned out to be a driver on that line - Hammersmith & City. A really nice guy called Gino, who it turns out has a bit of a phobia with spiders, sea-snails and sharks - but maybe only those that are in Australia.
What a really nice guy.
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| Gino - on his way to work for the evening. Diane was coveting his nice orange Underground bag - he did take good care not to let her too close to it. |
After leaving Paddington, it was time for something to it and we found ourselves in The Sawyers Arms just around the corner - a lovely meal and not too expensive even for London.
On the last walk for the day, there were a group of people crowding around admiring this..
Today was far more enjoyable than yesterday and maybe we are starting to get a bit more used to the pace of the city - we can never get used to nor condone bad manners.
No travel
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