It's all go on the London front (and other plans)

Had a change of heart today

Our long week in August for our summer cruise had originally been intended to include a couple of days or three in the heart of London.

And then earlier in the year the rumour mill on the YBW forums put a massive doubt in my mind. Stories of cancelled bookings at St. Kats, no space at Limehouse and no visitor facilities at all anymore at South Dock put me off the whole idea

Given that it's eight or nine hours upriver,at least, from Queensborough to St. Katherines Dock I didn't fancy the idea of getting there to only have to turn around and go all the way back again

So I blew that plan out and decided we'd go to Ipswich instead. However ...

Today, our friends on Laurin posted that they'd booked four nights in St. Kats that very week with no problems at all so I had a rethink. Off went an email requesting Monday 11th of August to Friday 15th August and to my surprise and Jane's delight back came a response within the hour confirming the booking

Shame our friends on Ocean Lady have moved from St. Kats to Limehouse but hey ho (and Limehouse isn't quite the same as being in the heart of the city at St. Kats)

St. Katherine's Dock lock and Tower Bridge
© Copyright N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence

Looks like the cruise could be a bash to Chatham on the Saturday, fall in with the Laurins for a run up the Thames on the Monday and then back downriver (probably) to Queenborough on the Friday before returning to the Crouch over the weekend almost certainly via Burnham on Saturday night

And meanwhile while sorting all that out I got on the social meeja vis this coming weekend which was supposed to be a reunion of the old festival sound and light team. Well it'll be me and Tony anyway but Rik has (understandably) decided that an 8 hour round trip is a bit much for a weekend away.

Wind forecast is looking a bit brisk and breezy over the weekend so we'll probably end up staying in the river. I'm tempted to either tow the RIB round or blow up the inflatable and have a run ashore at Paglesham on Saturday. Haven't done it in four years and keep meaning to