30th April 2021
The next stage of my journey along the waterways of London was to enter the Grand Union Canal at Brentford.
I set off from Chiswick, reaching first the Kew Railway Bridge. I had my bicycle on the bow, attached to a small mast.
Researching the railway bridge, I found out that in 1964 it was used for a Doctor Who episode, when the TARDIS appears under the bridge, which collapses on top of it.
The Chiswick Railway Bridge
Beyond this bridge, the Kew Bridge was more classically elegant.
I then was at the Brentford Lock, which connects the Thames to the Grand Union Canal.
The lock keeper was there to let me through at high tide. The river and canal were at the same level, so he just opened the first gate, and I went straight through into the canal.
He was very friendly and checked I knew what I was doing, including having a key to operate the next lock.
Further up the canal, I went under the M4.
There was then a series of eight locks in short succession and it was getting into the evening.
Wanting to keep to schedule, I decided to tow PicoMicroYacht on wheels around all the locks. I used my portable launching trolley and combined it with a kayak trolley to maker it easier.
The combination worked well, and as it got dark I was able to reach near Southall, ready for the next day's voyage back into the centre of London.