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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:15 am 
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Location: Barnehurst Kent UK
of our 33ed Wedding anniversary on the 22nd July my wonderful wife bought us tickets to sail on one of the tall ships sailing on the Thames I posted about recently. We went down to the Woolwich Arsenal pier this Sunday afternoon, and boarded the Dutch Lugger Gallant.

The weather was far from ideal.....

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Looking behind me I saw this building...

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Which rapidly spread over to this...

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The rain started to fall really hard as we left the jetty and turned upstream heading towards the famous Thames flood Barrier passing one of the other tall ships on the way..

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I'm getting completely soaked..

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My perch in the bow quickly became too wet to be tenable and I headed amidships to an awning rigged there...

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Thames Barrier through the rain

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One of the sections was closed

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Spotted this boat right out of the water. Found out later it's The Royal Iris one of the famous Mersey Ferries (as in Ferry cross the Mersey) Being restored.

I probably traveled on it as a kid I'm from that area originally... used to love the ferries.

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Approaching the Barrier. Still raining but it's looking a lot better ahead.

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From a distance you don't notice that they're curved

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Thames Barrier again

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Approaching the O2 Dome

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The new cable-car across the Thames

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It's pretty high... my wife doesn't want to try it... but I'm game!

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On the North bank spotted these two Lightships and a lighthouse

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They appear to be laid up. Certainly both are beached

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The rather stubby little lighthouse

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Dome with Dramatic Sky

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One of the Thames Catamarans... designed as commuter boats... they're fairly speedy

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Certainly a lot quicker than our Lugger... even though we were on engines not sail travelling against the current at this point.

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Approaching Greenwich

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Getting closer

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The masts of the tea Clipper Cutty Sark coming into view

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Not sure what this building is. There's a Latin inscription over the door which seems to indicate it was a hospital.

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HMS Ocean. An amphibious assault ship / Helicopter landing platform. On duty to provide security for the Olympics

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In the background is the Olympic equestrian arena. Zooming into the crowd it looks pretty full. In the far background The Royal Greenwich Observatory at the top of the hill. Home of the Greenwich Meridian.

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The Royal Naval College. Under the dome to the Right, the famous Painted Hall. Under that to the left the equally spectacular Chapel

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The newly restored Cutty Sark.
Great to see it looking so good after the terrible fire that nearly destroyed it.

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In the Distance - The London Shard. This is where the boat turned around and the Foresail raised (with help from my wife) for the journey back.

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HMS Ocean again

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Another view of the Naval College

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Oostesrchelde, another in the tall ships flotilla, passes us on its way upstream.

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Catamaran at Greenwich pier

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The Canary Wharf complex

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West India Dock. At least two large vessels in there.

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Back past the Dome under sail

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We were very near London City Airport

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Christine took this snap of me sporting my new/old beard.
(for my newer friends, I had a beard for nearly 30 years but shaved it off about 6 years ago)

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Oosterschelde running very near the Dome, it appears!

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Back to the rain again... fortunately quite light this time.

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Oosterschelde nearing the Barrier

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Twister at moorings

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Arrival back at Woolwich

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Oosterschelde caught us up

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The very beautiful J R Tolkein

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And her sister ship Loth Lorien

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Hope you liked my tour!

Ray

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Last edited by turnpike on Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:04 am 
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Location: Westchester New York
Turnpike, I really enjoyed your tour. especially on a ship like that. Sorry about the rain.

Ed


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:27 am 
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Location: Loudon Tn
Thanks for the tour, it was great and the only way I could have taken it.

Have a great day.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:17 am 
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Location: Lake Burton in the NE Georgia Mountains
I too, have very much enjoyed all of your photos !!!! It is very kind of you to share them with us !!!

Thanks a bunch !!!!

Skyrider


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:29 am 
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Location: Central Texas
Really terrific tour! Thanks for showing it. And you look right at home on a ship with the beard. Nelson ancestors no doubt.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:38 pm 
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Great tour and picks. You're looking pretty good and it was a blast I'm sure. I was on a TDY in Curacao over a decade ago and took a two masted gaft rigged schooner out to dive Kline Curacao. Like yours, it was motor up wind and sail back at the end of the day. They let us climb out onto the bowsprit. What a rush!

8) 8) 8)

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:51 pm 
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Location: Tyaak, Victoria Australia
Thanks Ray! Awesome pix. We are really enjoying watching the olympics in your wonderful old city. It makes Sue all nostalgic as she lived there for a few months, but the closest I have been is heathrow airport! Someday I hope to get there!


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:44 pm 
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That was great Ray, I'm glad you took the time to post them.

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If God made it we can pray for it.

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Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT


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