May 5, 2024 Greenwich, England Last day of 138 days!!!

 We started with a sail up the Thames River. We went up to the Explorer's Lounge to get a front row seat.

Above is our first look at London.

On the right is a closer look at some iconic buildings in the London skyline.

Below is the Thames River flood control. It is able to lower gates to hold back King tides from causing flooding in the city. They say it has only been used a couple of times since installed and completed in 1984. It had red and green lights on it directing traffic through them.

This is the Cutty Sark. When built, in 1869, it was the fastest ship, and could make the run to India and back with a fresh load of tea 11 days quicker that any other ship. It was able to achieve this speed due to the wood hull covered with metal which prevented mussels and barnacles from clinging to the ship and slowing it down. It was also able to hold more cargo due to a steel reinforced hull which didn't require the internal supports.

This is former Royal land with Churches and Palaces that were started and never finished, or currently no longer used for them. Now there is a music college, museum, and public spaces.

We are tendered not docked, so this is how we are transported back and forth from the ship to the dock. It will be a little harder tomorrow when we have our carry on bags with us.

At the top of the hill is the observatory. It is also where the Greenwich Mean Time is located. Above if you look one side is a clock, and the other side is a wind vane and showing the direction of the wind. The building on the right was changed to house the injured or disabled sailors. The wind vane goes down through the building so the sailors didn't have to go outside to know which way the wind was blowing. Another added comfort was from a nearby brewery were the sailors enjoyed their favorite brew right from their home as it was piped to them. 

I hope you can blow this picture up as the sculpture honors the life of Captain Nelson who helped win the battle of Trafalgar, and his statue is in Trafalgar Square in London.

These pictures do not tell the whole story of our day. It started out in sunshine and warm. The clouds came in, but no rain again today. Thanks England for a great visit.