Cutty Sark

Today there is nothing actually planned which does not mean there is nothing to do.  There is a we-could-do-this list (which is wonderfully not the same as a Honey-do list).  It’s hard to imagine struggling to find something to do in London, but there were some things that have held a certain intrigue that we didn’t want to forget.  The time has come to cross one or two of those off the list.

In order to take care of one of them, another cruise is necessary.  Ok…maybe not ‘necessary’ but absolutely a more sight-seeing friendly method than the London Tube system.  Also a lot less strenuous which has become a bigger problem for yours truly.  The Tube does provide a more than adequate means of getting to where our boat departure point is however.

The City of London, proper, is actually one of the smallest major cities in the world.  It is only one mile square.  The surrounding 32 districts (called boroughs, think New York), along with the City of London, create Greater London.  (That takes up about 611 square miles.)  One of those would be the City of Westminster.  Here is where our boat departs for a leisurely cruise down The Thames.

There is so much to see floating downstream but, once again, we have no tour guide, so pictures will have to tell our story.  The Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, St. Mary’s Cathedral, all of these and more could easily create a menu of things to see.  If London is not on your bucket list, consideration may be worthwhile.

The final stop on this cruise is the borough of Greenwich.  Everyone in the world, capable of telling time, has at least heard of Greenwich Mean Time.  The goal, however, was not the Prime Meridian located in the Royal Observatory (and we won’t even mention the more widely recognized IERS Reference Meridian).  No, the objective was the Cutty Sark.  This seemed like a more visibly imposing exhibit.

It is.

Built in 1869 (again with the OLD stuff!!), it is the last of its line of Tea Clippers still in existence.  The cargo of the day was tea…lots of tea.  But, with improvements in trade routes always coming into play, wool soon took over as a more profitable choice.  She was fast and held a 10 year speed record from Australia to Britain.  Steam became more prevalent as a propulsion source so she was sold to a Portuguese company by the name of Ferreira (funny…I KNOW that name…).  Over the years she transported various goods and merchandise.  She ended her sea career in 1954, dry-docked in Greenwich.  Trials and tribulations didn’t stop even then.  Two fires since 2007 have plagued her, but she was once again re-opened for public view in 2012.  Majestic beauty never really dies.

A wander about takes us though a little market place with a pause for a late lunch (slash early dinner).  Continuing much further has become serious issue for me so a trip to a medi-center is in order.  Turns out to be a wise decision.  I have now, because of that wonder drug called penicillin, managed to avoid bronchial pneumonia.  However that has come at the cost of me staying in the hotel tomorrow, attempting to recuperate.  Maybe I can catch some zzz’s.

As you are reading this, posted well after that occurrence, I’ve successfully pulled through and shall attempt another venture on Saturday.