Paddington Basin

Alperton to Paddington Basin, Grand Union Canal, 6.5 miles 0 locks

So this is London, where it’s cheaper to get half cut than to chill out on coffee. 

Enjoyable trip today, the sun shone a bit, but there was some snow about too, yes even in London a bit of snow! Little Venice was all I had hoped for, although there was no space to moor today and it was very quiet, not many people around.  It was very cold you see.

Here in the Paddington Basin this evening it is snowing quite heavily.  An amazing place with high rise glass buildings all around.  Mooring is on pontoons which surround the basin,  These wooden walkways have blue and white lights along the edge, it really is quite nice.

Coming through from Alperton this morning we passed over the North Circular Road.  I had no idea there was an aqueduct over that road until today.  The number of times I have used it over the years too.  Anyway it has what I can only describe as an island in the middle of it… you can go one side or the other.  I have no idea why it is there though. But I was glad it was there because it gave us both the best laugh of the day….

“Watch out Sue, there is a bloomin’ great barge coming”  “Oh my….a barge along here?”  “Yes and it’s coming right down the centre, you better get over more”… I looked, and I looked again… I saw some birds on the ‘barge’… Teehee    Well I suppose that island on the aqueduct did look like a barge…

I am surprised how quiet it is here tonight not a sound.  Tomorrow we are going to have a quick look at the Regent Canal and the zoo before turning back before Camden.  This turn back is significant… we will be on our way north again heading for Northampton, the River Nene and the Middle Levels….