Why join the convoy Our experts have done the WHAT and the HOW, so I’ll cover the WHY should you join a convoy on the tidal Thames

You’re supported You get the basic details in advance and a friendly voice on the end of the phone. There’s a comprehensive briefing the night before. You’re masters of your own destiny but it nice to have someone to follow!

You’ll be part of something greater than yourself..... There’s nothing quite like experiencing these giant structures for yourselves...

You can promote narrowboating.... This is the Save our Waterways campaign a few years ago – this year we did the inaugural cruise through the brand new City Mills Lock – I think it’s worth reminding the powers that be that narrowboaters exist and need waterways to cruise.

You can socialise You can socialise at the briefing, in the pub afterwards and in the giant locks, of course!

You can share tall tales..... And they don’t come much taller than this – a narrowboat dwarfed by the Barking flood barrier after crossing the river, which is almost half a mile wide here....

You’ll enjoy the thrill! It can get choppy on the tideway, particularly when it’s busy with commercial traffic, but we weren’t in any danger – it’s a thrill – more than on a canal but a lot less than a rollercoaster....

You’ll see a fine mix of ancient and modern - buildings The Shard emerging: The ever-changing skyline speaks of London’s evolving history – it’s a tremendous city by water... And the ‘Prospect of Whitby’ - the oldest riverside tavern, originally built in 1520, and its 500 year history is notorious. The building was rebuilt in the 18 th century following a fire.

You’ll see a fine mix of ancient and modern - boats Nb Fulbourne – built in and our own modern narrowboat Indigo Dream, launched in Narrowboats of all ages, shapes and sizes successfully take part in the convoys – just check the boater’s trinity of engine/prop/gearbox – you may be surprised at what your boat can achieve....

You’ll see iconic London at its best... A distinctive skyline at sunset – priceless...

And unlike the trip boats, you’ll be going slow enough to take in the view! Trip boats are so limited – they go too fast for proper sightseeing and have a limited range – you’ll see so much more from your own back deck. The Clippers do slow down a bit when there are narrowboats on the water....

You’ll gain confidence for other solo adventures The Manchester Ship Canal The mighty tidal Severn.....

You can be part of history The dawn light leached the landscape of all colour, movement and time and we became part of the river’s great rolling history – Wordsworth described it perfectly – see the last slide.....

Why join the convoy – in order to experience this..... Composed upon Westminster Bridge 1802 Earth has not anything to show more fair; Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty; This City now doth, like a garment, wear The beauty of the morning, silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie Open unto the fields, and to the sky All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. Never did sun more beautifully steep In his first splendour, valley, rock or hill; Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! The very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still William Wordsworth