Thames Crossings - The Woolwich Foot Tunnel Friday 12 September

"Today I'm re-sitting my BCS Specialist Certificate in Change Management exam which I failed by one mark back in June, this gives me a a great opportunity to re-attempt my assault on the Woolwich Foot Tunnel as the exam kicks off at 14:30 and last only a hour and a half which means I should be on my way by 16:00.

As it happens I complete the exam in an hour and a quarter so I'm ready to be on my way by 15:45. Incidentally the exam went well and if I don't pass I think I will give up taking exams. At my age why I'm I doing it, self esteem I guess.

It's a really lovely afternoon, the suns out and it's warm, after the disappointing August, September is proving to be a real gem of a month let's hope it keeps it up as I'm on holiday at the end of the month!

Incidentally whilst walking to my exam across Tower Bridge I was held up as it was opening for a Thames Barge, full of City types all boozed up and shouting and jeering as they went under the bridge. Also passing under the bridge was the London City corporation rubbish tug returning with empties from Purfleet, I had seen that depot whilst walking the final leg of the LOOP.

I sat the exam at the QA centre in St Catherine's Dock so the first part of my walk was through the dock to enable me to get on to the Highway, as today's walk which is all about getting to North Woolwich as quickly as possible. I'm aiming for 18:00 as the tunnel should be fairly busy then. My route takes me along the Highway past St George's in the East, and the a diversion into Shadwell Basin, but I'm soon back on the Highway.

Shadwell Basin

A few people are about, mainly young women with small children in pushchairs. It's then through Limehouse, lots of cyclists on their way home from work or whatever. I need to keep my wits about me or I will get runover!

Then it's past Westferry DLR station and now I have to follow the busy A1261 Aspen Way along the top end of Canary Wharf. I past the futuristic Canary Wharf CrossRail station in the making, looks a bit like a chrysalis.

Canary Wharf CrossRail station

Then past Billingsgate Market, the smell of fish is quite strong, strange to think that when they moved out here I doubt there was very much here, one of the reasons they moved was traffic congestion, I don't expect its much better here now.

Billingsgate Market

I pass Popular DLR and before I know it I'm at the Lower Lea Crossing, the views from the bridge are improved with the nice weather and today the tide is in, very impressive. I make my way to the Dangleway on The Royal Victoria Dock stopping off for a few minutes to film the DLR at Royal Victoria.

DLR at Royal Victoria

I walk along the side of the dock as I did a couple of weeks ago. This time I cross by the footbridge at the end of the City Airport. I notice today that the planes are taking off and landing the opposite way to two weeks ago.

Royal Victoria Dock

I stand by the dock for a few minutes waiting for a plane to arrive but can't stay long as sped is of the essence today. This footbridge brings me out near the airport terminus and a huge sculpture in the middle of the roundabout of a impression of a naked lady called Athena, looks quite impressive against the blue sky unfortunately my photo does not do it justice.

So it a a mile and half from here to the ferry along Albert Road, does not look as bad as last time, I'm still fascinated by the Tate & Lyle refinery and manage to grab a photo from the middle of the road. Again not many people about, a couple of guys I overtake in deep conservation amble along. But before long I have to stop something is rubbing on my foot, a couple of weeks ago, when I was down here for the DLR crossing at George V I tripped I did not think much about then but since I've realised  I've not exactly twisted my ankle but strained my shin if that's possible. Anyway before I left home I had strapped it up, but now it was giving me grief. I stopped to check it out, oh dear a blister, I quickly pop it but  I also remove the skin so I've now got an exposed blister, not good. I don't put my bandage back on as that caused the problem. I will just have to see how I get on. As it happens no problem, although it was sore the following morning.

Tate & Lyle from Albert Road

I return to my walk passing the couple of guys I had passed previously. North Woolwoch does not look so bad in the early evening sunlight and with the trees in leaf although beginning to turn. This walk is quickly becoming my favourite, mind you I don't think I will do during the winter, but hey who knows!

Woolwich

North Woolwich

I arrive at the foot tunnel, the Ferry does not look busy, well what I mean there's no huge queue! I descend into the bowls of the earth and walk along the tunnel. What can I say about a walk through the tunnel, it's round, it's long, it's echoey, it's bright, it has white glazed tiles and it looks similar to the Greenwich foot tunnel. It also has a mid point marker. Theres a few people walking along it not taking much notice of the keep left convention, not many bikes, one I think. I'm soon across the other side and it's barely gone six, I'm  making really good time.

Towards North Woolwich

Towards Woolwich

So it up the hill out of Woolwich. Vere off at the Academy and up Red Lion Lane. Beverley phones me and let's me know the trains were up the creek tonight so I had chosen a good day for it!

Soon I'm home with plenty of time to get ready for tomorrow's trip to Accrington.

Video of the walk through the tunnel.

Thames Crossing No 7 - Canary Wharf Pier to Greenland Pier - 16th May

For todays Friday walk home (EC2 to SE9) I made a return visit to Canary Wharf Pier to enable me to catch the Thames Clipper to Greenland Pier (for Surrey Quays). I thought last week was a very pleasant evening, well today was even better, so much so that I was able to walk in 'shirt sleeve' order, unfortunately I had left my earphones at home so it was a music free walk, I thought this would be bit, of a downer, but actually it enhanced the walk as I could take in all the sounds that the city had to offer, shouting, horns, cars, buses, shoppers etc etc etc.

I made a quick get away from the office, certainly no later than 17:10 and headed off towards Brick Lane and Whitechapel as normal ( ah Whitechapel, Monopoly, Photo of the Day - now that's another story!).

I decided to, walk around the back of Commercial Street as far as I could, this is the home of the Bengali community and there was a time when I could walk down Brick Lane and be welcomed into the restaurants and shops as a valued member of the community, but that was a long time ago and was due to my status as the Assistant Manager at the local Branch of NatWest.

My route took me along my old cycle route when I used to cycle to work everyday, the last time I did that was almost seven years ago, it's amazing how many people cycle that route now, in fact its one of these new fangled cycle super highways and to think I used it as my route of choice years before Boris and his boys got the blue paint out.

It did not take long to arrive at Canary Wharf pier, I must have been earlier than last week as there was a queue for tickets, the indicator board said the next Boat would be in 5 minutes. Hurry people I need to film the arrival of the Clipper and use the facilities. In the end I gave up and used the ticket machine, only after the ticket seller pointed it out to me!

The Hilton Clipper was chugging backwards and forwards and there seemed to be an awful lot of people down one end of the pier, I wondered why that was, but I went off to the other end so I could film the Clipper arriving, and here it comes!

Standing Room Only

It's at this point that I realise why there were so many people down the far end, that's where the Clipper docks and it's standing room only! The Clipper docks and the deckhand announces that they are full and can only take as many people on as get off, that happens to be 34. He invites those who arrived first to move to the front, hmm not much movement there. Whilst I wasn't one of the first I was certainly earlier than a number of people, but hey, the sun's out, it's warm I'm by the River, the views are good so I don't care, I'll wait for the next one, "ten minutes" the deck hand announces for the next Clipper.

Monsoon Clipper departing for Greenland

I should point out at this time the cost of my fare £2.70 with my Oyster discount, that 5p more expensive than last week when I travelled the shorter trip to The Hilton Hotel.

Eventually the Clipper arrived, it was more like 18 minutes but to be honest I did not care, it was so pleasant. In fact the Pier became a scene of high nautical activity as the Hilton Ferry arrived and so did two Clippers my 'all stops to Woolwich' and the express to somewhere else either Greenwich or Woolwich. The express had to wait off pier for us to depart.

Again the Clipper was very busy, with people, standing on the outer deck with beers, the Clipper has a bar, but I think this was in preference to sitting inside. I had no problem getting on board and made my way to the front. Damn the front seats were taken by tourists, in fact most of the seats appeared to be taken by tourists. But what's really grating is that they were not filming the journey, as I wanted to, or even looking out of the windows they were too busy looking at their phones.

Great view of Docklands

I sat as close to the front as possible, and very quickly they were announcing our arrival at Greenland Pier, so I made my way to the disembarking area. The journey took a little over 3 minutes, quicker then the shorter trip to the Hilton Hotel last week.

Greenland Pier

So that's that, and off I walked along the the river front past Greenland Dock, named so because most of the Greenland Whalers. Needless to say I stopped off at the Dog and Bell for a quick beer with Erik and Rose and then on to Greenwich Park passing the statue of Peter the Great with the small head. Apparently he came to the Deptford Shipyard to view boat building techniques incognito. Apparently Captain Benbow (later to become Admiral, hence the Blog title!) sublet Sayes Court to the royal party.

Peter the Great with a small head

Whilst walking through Greenwich Park I was asked to take a photo of a couple of guys in front of their toys, a big bike and a flash car, having completed this I then said can I take one and they were a little taken aback when I took their photos!

Boys with Toys

Arrived home 21:30 just in time to watch HIGNFY.