Not a motorcycle (and hardly a trip) but….

[Wapping]

…. I decided to try out my newly converted electric Brompton, by riding it from Wapping, up to the Olympic Park, which is about 4.5 miles away.

As much as anything I like to look at the barges and boats that are moored up and wonder how long some have all but rotted there. If I won the lottery, it would be great to rescue one and have it fully restored, with all the modern bells and whistles.

This was where the two dogs were shot last weekend. The event has caused a lot of ill feeling in the immediate area.



Bow Locks, where the River Lee Navigation, divides from Bow Creek










I guess these two got their tub going eventually



Looking back towards Bow Locks



It’s easy to have fun on the water in the sunshine….



The historic Three Mills site



It’s actually on an island. You can see the different waterways on the map……

 

[Wapping]

Three Mills Island





There’s some very strange craft on the water. This one looks like a lifeboat from a large ship or oil rig. The owner has bolted some sort of seating area on the aft (that’s a nautical expression) end. We’ll see it on the way back.



Underneath Bow Bridge flyover. Again, you can can see the various creeks and rivers, branching off on the map






With some topical local graffiti



As a local history board explains, there has been a crossing here for nearly 1,000 years. I guess if you are the wife of the king, you can get a bridge built, after you have fallen in the water



Our end destination is slowly coming into view



They caught up with me again….

 

[Monsieur]

You got to Olympic Park, did you get back?

 

[Wapping]

You got to Olympic Park, did you get back?

Patience…..

 

[Wapping]

Past the sewage pipe. The Victorians were justifiably proud of their engineering prowess. In particular, Mr Bazalgette, who built London’s first proper sewer system, running alongside the Thames. It accounts for why the Embankment past the Savoy and Charring Cross (away to the west) is the shape it is, as the sewer pipe runs inside it. London is still using his wonderful (though badly overstretched) sewer today, though it will be greatly enhanced by the new ‘Super Sewer’, a massive engineering and logistical undertaking, which will be complete in 2025.





Some more of the old tubs and some Eastern Europeans fishing. One of the rotting tubs was a long way from its home in Rotterdam

 

[Wapping]

There are a few what I’d call ‘camps’ along the waterway, where the homeless have taken up residence, often accompanied by a pumping techno beat. This fellow had chosen (quite sensibly, I guess) a spot under a bridge. He’d made himself a floating pontoon or platform out of old beer kegs

 

[Wapping]

Onwards to the next set of locks, which had a quite fun looking wedding party barge coming through





Past the trendy bar, again banging out banging tunes




Past the football pitches, in the shadow of West Ham’s ground in the former Olympic stadium, where a mini version of Brazil appeared to be practicing



Until it was time to turn around and retrace my steps

 

[Wapping]

Turn around Whittington (though he turned around in what is now north London)

A tidy bit of parallel parking by the lady driver



Some boats might look unoccupied. But, people are living on them, most being pretty friendly







Whilst some residents have four legs





and in one jump it was back onboard

 

[Wapping]

I am pretty sure that this one hasn’t moved for quite a while and that (hopefully) nobody lives on it



I was though taken with this fine example of, what I believe is called, up-cycling



Past the small ‘Tender’ barge. I am sure that’s not what they are called



Past more tubs and a warning sign as to the dangers of electricity. Something about the sign amused me, when I read the bit about calling an emergency number. I had a cartoon image of someone holding the cable, sparks and lightning bolts flying, hair on end and struggling to find his mobile phone







and one that probably vibrates and shakes to an acid beat, when anyone is in

 

[Snaf]

Good read, we like a bit of urban exploring.

 

[Wapping]

Back under the A11, which will find its end in Cambridge





No doubt this was an important message from whoever sprayed and stencilled it





Back past the fading life boat, with its bolted on seating area. It looks well made and someone went to quite a lot of trouble to fit it, yet it doesn’t fit the shabby state of the rest of the craft



Another old tub. What is amazing is the quantity of old junk, so often heaped on top

 

[Wapping]

Now into Limehouse, where there’s a ‘wedding taxi’, which sort of fits with the ‘wedding barge’ seen earlier



Someone heading up from the Thames end





Under the Commercial Road, which will become the A13, finishing on the mouth of the Thames estuary at Southend



Away from the water, you have to cross one of east London’s many small parks and green spaces, very popular with residents. These ladies were playing ball with their dogs





Past the Bangladeshi family’s picnic



Past an encouraging signpost

 

[MacJ]

Interesting and informative Wapping, I'd never really thought of London having a network of working waterways, though logically, pre internal combustion engine, there must have been a system of transportation to support commerce and industry. In the Black Country, my patch, the 'cuts' are well known with a nearby Black Country Museum and Canal Navigation Trust.
A shame to see so many apparently abandoned old hulks and yes some great restoration projects there.
Well done.

 

[Wapping]

On to turn right into Narrow Street, to head pick up the Thames and head westwards to home. There is a small triangular area of grass and trees, where a bunch of French residents were playing boules












The famous old, Grapes pub, owned in partnership by the actor Sir Ian McKellen

 

[crumbles]

Thanks for that Wappers,,,
Didn't realise there were so many old boats,barges and things in amongst the canal ways in the city...

 

[Wapping]

Interesting and informative Wapping, I'd never really thought of London having a network of working waterways, though logically, pre internal combustion engine, there must have been a system of transportation to support commerce and industry. In the Black Country, my patch, the 'cuts' are well known with a nearby Black Country Museum and Canal Navigation Trust.
A shame to see so many apparently abandoned old hulks and yes some great restoration projects there.
Well done.

Thank you.

Like its green spaces, London is covered with a system of old waterways and rivers, many of which have been cleaned up and are used for leisure activities of all sorts.

London Canals – London’s waterways history

Eventually they were replaced by the railways and the internal combustion engine.

 

[Bloomers100]

I work at the Olympic Park and never get the chance to explore, thanks for opening my eyes.

 

[Davey B]

A great sunday morning read Richard, thanks. (Thankfully, my Mrs hates shopping so any visit to a town or city involves lots of ambling around the architecture, watercourses and out of the way places)

 

[Wapping]

Out onto the Thames, first looking eastwards towards Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs (you can see how much the river bends around the peninsula) and then westwards, towards home







Into King Edward Memorial Park





These oasis of green are right in the middle of London





Through and past, Shadwell Old Basin

 

[Wapping]

The old power station, with the Prospect of Whitby pub to its left



The local fishing crew





New life



On westwards, out of the basin, the City skyline coming into view, a little over a mile away



Into Wapping Woods