Quiet, sunny day.

Riding on my own once more today. From Lea Bridge I took a lingering look at Essex Wharf and then rode past the filter beds where Aidan was working on the weed-cutter 'Taranchewer.' (Aidan? I dunno, he's CRT staff who always seems to be where works are going on, often arriving mysteriously by bicycle, I really must ask him what his rôle at CRT is next time I see him.) I waved a cheery hello and cycled on.

Hackney marshes were quiet, and relatively tidy. Like everywhere on the system they could probably benefit from a litter pick and a boat being there to receive the rubbish, but the towpath and beyond was actually pretty clean. Here and there, boats were moving, even the broken down ones were getting a tow.

With little to see or do I rode further: on past East Wick (where the mooring sign needs a bit of attention with graffiti scrubs) and Sweet Water moorings. Then, between the Monier Road footbridge and the railway I happened on a tent alongside the towpath. Seems that it's sometimes occupied by a rough sleeper (according to the nearby boaters I asked) and so I put in a report asking for someone to get them some help.

The next person on the towpath was a PCSO, so I pointed it out to them as well.

Then down to Old Ford Lock (on the Lee) and a quick inspection of the sanitary station. Grotty as usual, and the doors and taps left unlocked. I took some rubbish from the inside (including an empty litre bottle of vodka) across the lock to the bins and shut the door and tap-covers.

Then back to Timber Lodge in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for a panini and coffee before going home.

2 very easy hours.

Update: I found out more about Aidan. He's Aidan Slater, a CRT Waterways Operative - which is a sort of cover-all term for people who do a variety of useful work on the navigation.