Friday 31 August was D-day. We slipped our mooring at Gravesend just before 9 a.m. on a clear sunny morning. But 10 minutes later a high-speed police launch pulled alongside and a Man in Black climbed over the guard rail ... we had been boarded! They had seen us cutting across to the north shore of the river and were checking we had clearance to proceed. Luckily that had all been sorted out the day before, so we were free to proceed towards the first land mark that we knew so well from ashore: the QEII Bridge at Dartford.
Phew! Just made it under! [editor's note: actually plenty of room - 53 metres clearance and FF only needs 19 - but this blogger likes to include a bit of drama for effect.]
There was surprisingly little traffic on the river, so we were able to enjoy a relaxed sail up river, using only the foresail and the flood tide for most of the way to carry us upstream and round the many twists and turns. Once at the Thames Barrier however, the engine had to be switched on to conform with the Port of London requirements. Canary Wharf could also just be seen in the distance from this point.
After safe transit through the Barrier, the well known land marks came thick and fast: Greenwich, Canary Wharf, the Dome, the Skywalk (spot the tiny black dots in the sky running between the white vertical post on the right and the dome on the left) to name but a few. We were delighted to see the first Reception Committee waving to us from the pier at Canary Wharf as we passed: son Ivor and friend Duncan who are both currently working there. What a thrill that was! A little further on, the second Reception Committee was spotted, waving to us from the terrace just outside Cinnabar Wharf at Wapping: Sylvia and Colin, our crew and guides on the west coast of Scotland. They had travelled down from Whittlesford specially to meet us. Brilliant! Shortly after spotting them, Tower Bridge and the Shard hove into view.
We had made excellent time up the river, even arriving a little too early to get in through the lock to St. Katherine's Haven, which is located about 200 metres east of and downstream from Tower Bridge. So we took the opportunity to fill up with diesel from the barge moored just downstream from the lock. That manoeuvre was all completed by 13:00 but then we had a most frustrating wait just outside the lock whilst 4 boats were scheduled to come out - an operation that normally takes about 15-20 minutes. Just our luck that a technical problem occurred with the lock mechanism at this point, meaning Follyfin was hovering on her engine almost under Tower Bridge for 45 minutes, balanced expertly against the tide by the Skipper,
But Reception Committee 2 came to the rescue! Seeing we were so delayed, they nipped off to a nearby well known supermarket to purchase the wherewithal for a sumptuous celebratory lunch. Obviously a very well trained crew! Towards evening, the workers joined us for more celebrations.
They arrived in dribs and drabs (that's the effect of work of course, retirement being a much preferable status!) but no less welcome for that ... all the people who had actually sailed with us (with only two exceptions, Marina and Kathryn, who unfortunately could not be with us) plus one who hadn't - Lorin, an American recently arrived in London from Moscow via Sweden - joined us for refreshment. Follyfin was in her element, completely undaunted by the record number of people sitting down for dinner.
The next day, Saturday, we locked out of St Katherine's and moved down river about 2 miles to Limehouse Basin, just past that well known pub, the Prospect of Whitby. The locking-in procedure was much smoother than at St. K's with far fewer spectators, and it feels a much more authentic yachtsman's place. Also half the price! It is well served by buses and the DLR.
Sunday afternoon we welcomed some more visitors for tea, all people who have been following our progress on the blog. First to arrive was James, who lives nearby and to whose wedding in the Lake District we had travelled from Plymouth in May, taking a week out of our UK Tour. His wife, Beanie, had been given Paralympics tickets just that day so sensibly chose to forego the tea party! However she missed a wonderful chocolate cake made by Laurel (ably assisted by Will) and delicious scones and choc brownies baked by the Zoo Team, Linda and Clare!
What a pleasure to welcome so many people aboard Follyfin at the official end of her UK Tour! Thanks Guys!
This afternoon we will head back down the Thames to Gravesend on the ebb tide and tomorrow start working our way back up the east coast towards our winter berth at Hull, where we aim to be by mid-September. Weather and tides permitting, we hope to call into some of the more picturesque harbours in Suffolk and Norfolk that we missed on the way down. There will be a few more blog posts as required. So we will not bid our readers farewell just yet.
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