Busman's Holiday -1
Last Monday we took a day off for a trip on the paddle steamer Waverley. This is the only sea-going paddle steamer in the world and it divides its time between the Thames estuary, the Severn estuary and the Scottish islands.

We were not the only passengers waiting to board at Whitstable

The ship commenced its trip round the coast at Ramsgate and its last port of call was Soouthend on the northern shore.  
At over 1.25miles, Southend pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world. It has sufferred three fires in the last 20 years and several breaches. The last of these was repaired only three days ago after a maintenance vessel loosed its moorings and struck the pier.

The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which carries the clockwise traffic of the M25 over the river looks more elegant from the deck of a ship than from the front seat of a car.

The highlight, of course was passing through Tower Bridge -

twice!

And in the rush hour!

Even better than the swing bridge at Aldermaston