Long horse Bridge open at last

The much delayed new Long horse bridge is open at last - will pop down at the weekend to have a look and will post some pictures - this is how it used to look

Richmond on Thames

Worked in Richmond last week and had a couple of walks down the Thames path at lunchtimes.
The tide was out on both occasions and I noticed all the beached houseboats, restaurant boat and a couple of narrowboats (including a small Springer like mine).
The Richmond lock and weir was closed for maintemance, including the footbridge overhead (the weir gates are used to maintain the level of the river above Richmond to allow navigation and the gates are lowered at high tide to allow navigation without using the lock (charged at £5 a go).

A very pleasant spot for a stroll or to eat your lunch.

Green slime on the erewash - Azolla Weed

The Erewash canal is suffering from thick green slime at the moment - Azolla Weed - no sun getting through to the canal and must be a danger to the fish and other wildlife. Probably due to the lack of boat activity on this underused canal. Will have to travel up it again next year - hopefully it can keep going until the derby canal is restored to form a cruising ring

Lock on waterpoint at findern

BW today sent letters to moorers at Findern to let the Nadee restaurant use the waterpoint used for boaters. The Nadee insist that they only want the water to water their spice garden (and not provide water for their massive marquee and its regular events!).
The boaters have been protecting the supply via the use of a padlock - the restaurant having installed a high pressure pipe and fittings (a bit over the top for a bit of watering).
I don't feel that this is a good use of the impoverished, soon to be underfunded charity, with very limited resources and my fellow boaters feel that when the bills roll in the water supply will soon be cut off - due to the likely abuse of this facility.
update:
Apparently the water supply is not metered, however, as the country is facing a severe water shortage (which will close many canals next summer) it is unlikely that this situation will continue. Expect the price of a water supply to rocket as it has been doing for electric and gas as demand exceeds supply.