Bridge opens for Us

Passing under the Bridge

Hi everyone
We've arrived in London - moored on the historic and beautiful Hermitage wharf by London Bridge till Saturday.

Took us all night to motor the 80 miles of Thames estuary.  I was on watch from 8pm to midnight, passing Harwich and Clacton etc waking to the outskirts of London - The London waste incineration plant, Woolwich Ferry and the Barrage.  One of our crew had grown up in the area and we were treated to a running commentary on the area, it's development in the past 50 years and the local riverside pubs.  Coming in past Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf was so exciting as we had an appointment with Tower Bridge - opening especially for us at 10am and then again at 11am for us to pass back.  It was so exciting.

We have two days of events; Exxpedition dinner at Hermitage, boat tours, Plastic free open event at St Kat's dock, creating an art installation using Thames litter with artist Maria Arceo, story telling evening at the Cutty Sark, an evening of talks at ZSL (Zoological Society of London), an evening of films about plastic pollution at the Dicken's Inn.

Meanwhile boat work is underway; Skipper and Holly deep in the bilges replacing an effluent pipe - bless them - we may have two loos again for the remainder of the trip.

Holly and Diane doing Essential Plumbing

Our Itinerary for London - beautifully written by crew member Liane alias Pirate Scarlet  Macaw