Grey Greenwich

The novelty of seeing the Cutty Sark de-rigged (for the first time since the 1920s) was exciting, but it was also rather sad since we are so used to seeing her bristling with uprights on our frequent sejours to Greenwich. For more about this ship and her recently-begun restoration, see http://www.cuttysark.org.uk.



Thank goodness that few boyish sadnesses aren't conquered (conkered!) by a the falling onto our homeward path of two leaves attached to a spiky seed-pod! (Ignore for now that what Soli is holding is not actually a bit of a chestnut tree...)


[Dear Americans, 'conkers' are what the English call horsechestnuts (which I grew up calling buck-eyes). In the fall, kids here in UK play a game by the same name. There's a decent explanation of this at http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/conkers.html.]


A couple hundred yards from the Cutty Sark's dry-dock is the edge of the River Thames. Above is a view to the left, toward Deptford; below is a view to the right, of Greenwich Pier. The tide was low at this moment so you can see the foreshore. (The only other place you can walk along the Thames foreshore in London is at Battersea.)

Beyond the pier, notice the electricity power station. It is the oldest of these hulks remaining in the world. (The other, made famous on the 1977 Pink Floyd album cover, is also at Battersea.) The original large-scale power station was built in Deptford, SE London by Sebastian de Ferranti in 1889. Sadly, it was demolished in 1992-- three years before my arrival in London-- so I never got to see it.



The November sky's play with light and cloud-shadow shows up rather well in this last picture. The seagulls seemed to be enjoying the air currents created by the funky atmosphere that day. The tall buildings are at Canary Wharf, which is directly across the River from Greenwich.