Putney through central London to Tower Bridge by kayak as day turns to night

10 November 2016,

Our journey began at Barn Elms which is slightly up river from Putney Bridge and is where the kayaks are kept. As we got into our little boats hailstones pounded the water - and us. I was paddling with my friend Rick Stanton, a cave explorer who, in the last few years, has become a dedicated paddler, he lives in Coventry and took a train to London for the day. The aim of this journey was to photograph the Thames from Putney through Central London to Tower Bridge, while day turned to night. Our journey took us past houseboats, two power stations both currently being redeveloped as flats, beneath 20 London Bridges, past the Houses of parliament, the London Eye and onto HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge.

The sun was setting as we reached Albert Bridge and as day turned into night a large moon appeared brightly above the Shard. We stopped for a five-minute break on the beach at Tower Bridge for some hot Ribena before paddling back to Barn Elms with the incoming tide on an inky black river.

A larger selection of pictures can be seen here http://www.h2ophotography.com/london-by-kayak

This is where our journey begins - Putney Bridge Canoe Club, (right-hand brown container) Barn Elms Carrying the kayaks to the water. River Thames, Barn Elms, London Hail stones landing on the River Thames, Putney, London. Paddler Rick Stanton at Putney, River Thames, London Putney Railway Bridge, River Thames, London New flats on the south side of the River near Wandsworth. River Thames, London House boats on the south side of the River near Wandsworth. River Thames, London Wandsworth Transfer Station, River Thames, London Wandsworth Bridge, River Thames, London The Lots Road Power Station, River Thames, London Albert Bridge, River Thames, London Houseboats on the south side of the river, near Vauxhall, River Thames, London St George Wharf Tower, Vauxhall, River Thames, London Vauxhall Bridge, River Thames, London Kayaks approaching Lambeth Bridge. River Thames, London. The London Eye, River Thames, London. Hungerford Bridge, River Thames, London. Blackfriars Bridge, River Thames, London. Pillars that formed part of the original railway bridge at Blackfriars. River Thames, London The Millennium Bridge. River Thames, London. Southwark Bridge and the Shard. River Thames, London Southwark Bridge. River Thames, London Southwark Bridge and the Shard. River Thames, London Tower Bridge, River Thames. London