Moving out of London

On Monday we moved up along the Lee Navigation heading out of London for a few days.
It was rather gloomy and very cold but hey I think we're getting used to that now.

Leaving the end of the Hertford Union and the interesting collection of boats there, one with a bicycle fixed on the back with its pedal fixed up via a hand drill to the propeller, an unusual form of power.

Looking back over the Olympic Park, now once again a building site as it is made ready for the new occupants.

Passing the Anchor & Hope looking rather diminutive between tall blocks of flats. A surviving 'pub in the front room' type with one bar, this is a popular place overlooking the river and the Walthamstow Marshes.

Above Tottenham Hale lock these Thames sailing barges are moored at the wharf.  The Thames barges were flat bottomed sailing boats designed for the shallow muddy conditions of the River Thames. I found the following information about them.
The two barges certainly add colour and interest to the wharf.   Both barges are 25 metres long and were built by Manor Marine in Dorset.   They were modelled on the local powder barges, (the Lady of the Lea was one of them), that once shifted munitions from Waltham Abbey to Woolwich Arsenal, and they give the look of an historic working boat but with the interior in keeping with modern needs to offer local businesses a rather unique office.

And finally the sun came out as nb Tiddler joined us at Pickett's lock.

We had a bit of game after this, our plan had been to moor at Waltham Abbey, but one way and another, things changed and so did our plans, so we ended up mooring below Enfield lock after a little trip up to Rammey Marsh and back again.  There's a long and sad story behind all that, but not for today.

11 miles, 8 locks