The Delights of the Regent's Canal

Paddington Basin to Cumberland Basin – Turn – Cumberland Basin to Yeading, Regent’s Canal and Paddington Arm, GU Canal, 14 miles 0 locks

Leaving a rather cold Paddington this morning I was really looking forward to the short trip running through Regent’s Park to Camden Town, and I wasn’t disappointed.  I had forgotten about the short 272yd tunnel… and was in it!  I suddenly felt just awful.  I hadn’t prepared myself, my mouth dried and I felt very light headed.. but it was short, I pushed the throttle forward and came out of the the other end like a cork out of a bottle.. phew

The houses beside the Regent’s Canal are magnificent, so were the long graceful line of flats on the opposite side.  There are plenty of Pics which I will put into the album tomorrow.  Passing the London Zoo, the site of so many pictures I have so often seen in books and magazines, the aviary.  Funnily enough there seemed to be more birds clinging to the outside of the netting than on the inside!!

 Winding (turning) at Cumberland Basin, the sun came out and we had another opportunity to enjoy the surroundings.  One of the bridges we passed through was quite interesting.  The bridge is officially called Macclesfield Bridge, but it is now known as Blow Up Bridge, in fact in the Nicholson Guide to the Waterways it is actually marked as Blow Up Bridge.  It was named after the Earl of Macclesfield, the first chairman of the Regent’s Canal Company. 

However, in 1874 a boat carrying benzol and gunpowder blew up directly under the bridge, the crew were never found, sadly blown up with the cargo.  The bridge was re-built using the ten original supporting columns, but they were erected the wrong way round.  Today we saw the leading column with grooves worn by tow ropes on both sides of the column!

Through Little Venice again, still in the sunshine, before continuing on back down the Paddington Arm towards Bulls Bridge.  The weather changed with heavy snow showers falling from time to time… Vic and I smiled together, intrepid sailors we felt!

Moored in a delightful spot on the non-towpath side, a lovely grassy area, in the early afternoon.  Lucy had been on the towpath all day……. she was tired for sure.  In fact since she came in this evening she has slept heavily.

I heard some high pitched birds, and when I went to investigate the nearby trees I saw around 10 or 12 paraquets…  more of them tomorrow