Tell us about your weekend ride

Phwwoooooaaaarrrr, that was both fun and rewarding. I think I've managed to find most of the bits of paths and tracks where you can ride next to or as close as possible next to the Thames between the Dartford Crossing and Tower Bridge, henceforth known as "The Northside Thames Tickler". I had a whole day to meself to do it so took lots of time detours, a velo-voyage-of-discovery if you will, all 33.4 twisty turny miles of it.

Loadsa piccies along the way, starting with a picture of an inquisitive wally with too much time on hands and rubbish bike that needs riding waiting for the lift over the Thames to Essexth.

Safe landing, ride along the Rainham Marsh Path and took the obligatory (!?) Paddlesteamer heading down stream to the river crossing at Dartford picture.

Nothing worth taking pics of until I discovered a little path I didn't know of in Creekside that takes you down to the Barking Barrier...

I don't know of a way of keeping close to the Thames along the section betyween Creekside and Becton but you can get on the Thames path at Gallions Reach and cross a coupleof lock gates like this one near the Redgrave Bridge...

which is right under the City Airport flightpath where some joker has put the Christmas lights on early...

Picking up the Thames path again you go past this funny little boat by North Woolwich, whats it for?...

Continuing along the lovely scenic (ahem) path to the Ferry...

Then I had to come inland a bit as Tate n Lyle own the river frontage along a big chunk o Thames at Silvertown but I did get to find a little park and path that leads you right up to the north end of the Thames Barrier thus..

Then over the Lower Lea crossing and bit of a detour into Trinity Bouy Wharf just because I could, and it's got good views of Mega-Bucks-Land....

and a crash helmet with aerials sticking out of it...

Shimmy onto the Isle O' Dogs and take the 1st left after the big blue bridge and here's a little bit of my partners family history....

and...

Can't see nuttin' right? Well, many years ago there was Shipbuilder on this site, it was the Pitcher Shipyard. My would-be-Muvver-in-Law-if-I-married-her-bonkers-Daughter is a Pitcher, a direct descendant of that fella who owned that yard. Coolio or what? Unfortumatley there's no Onnasiss (sp?) mega dosh dynasty to be inherited as the business went bust due to boats sinking years later due to dodgy rivets or summat. Meh.

Talking of boats, here's the launch site of Brunel's SS Great Eastern, what a whopper it was too...

..which was on a nice riverside path around towards Canary Wharf, lovely views up stream along it too IMO. Then you get thrown off it around Limehouse where upon sits number 131 Wapping High Street...

Thats where in the late 80's I signed away a fortune to buy a 1970's MusicMan Stingray Bass and a huge Mega Boogie all valve bass rig. Still got and play the Stingray but I've got no need for huge backline amps now so the Boogie went. I digress...

Further along Wapping I found you can get close to the river again, sweet views of Tower Bridge getting closer...

And so after a very pleasant 33.4 miles I thought I'd let my heap take the spotlight...

and thrash it to within an inch of its life back to my fave pub close to home. 1Hr 2 mins to do this...

Slight tail wind helped me keep up an Av. 15.67 mph which was good for me on the Fixie.

Arrived happily knackered at the pub and found this guest ale being served,

Awethumne! I'm a big King Crimson fan, saw them in Aylesbury at the beginning September and they were amaaayyyyyyyyyzing.

2 pints, night night.

The end.

:)