Morning light in the water at Hammersmith Bridge. 
River sculpture takes up the theory that the name Kew derives from the word key describing the shape of the Thames' meanders. But the river is not particularly key-shaped at Kew. Barnes is sited at a more 'pinched' meander.
Tumbled down tree on Brentford Ait (island). Ait is a name for a whole series of long and very thin islands in the river in this stretch. Others are called Lot's Ait, Isleworth Ait and Oliver's Ait.
Syon House where Henry VIII's fifth wife Catherine Howard was imprisoned before her execuction at the Tower of London. Henry VIII's body was brought here in 1547 on its way to burial at Windsor. During the night the coffin broke open and the household dogs were found the next day chewing over his bones. This was the fulfillment of a curse which had been put on Henry when he forcefully acquired Syon house. It had previously been a monastery.
Most of Isleworth church was set on fire by arsonists in 1943. The church now consists of a fourteenth century tower and a nave built in 1970.
Heron in the channel seperating Richmond Old Deer Park from the river
Twickenham Bridge's bronze-plated hinges make it earthquake-proof
Richmond Bridge (built in 1777)
Hammersmith to Richmond was the longest walk so far panning out at just under seven miles. There was a beautiful light over the river when we (Raja, myself and Ray) arrived at Hammersmith Bridge. The light on the water reminded me of my favourite London You Tube film Morning City from 1956 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3EuJT_yRSQ
Rowers come to a halt as a man and a dog watch
Reading the book of river myths
Dis-used reservoir (Barnes)
Thames by Mottlake
Barnes railway bridge
Raymoon Moon aged 60 years and one day
Raja in North Sheen sound park
Tunnel at Kew railway bridge
Rope hangs from bridge by Strand on the Green
Toll-keepers cottage at Kew
River sculpture takes up the theory that the name Kew derives from the word key describing the shape of the Thames' meanders. But the river is not particularly key-shaped at Kew. Barnes is sited at a more 'pinched' meander.
Cage in gardens by Kew Palace
Tumbled down tree on Brentford Ait (island). Ait is a name for a whole series of long and very thin islands in the river in this stretch. Others are called Lot's Ait, Isleworth Ait and Oliver's Ait.
River Brent flowing into the Thames at Brentford
Isleworth Ait
Syon House where Henry VIII's fifth wife Catherine Howard was imprisoned before her execuction at the Tower of London. Henry VIII's body was brought here in 1547 on its way to burial at Windsor. During the night the coffin broke open and the household dogs were found the next day chewing over his bones. This was the fulfillment of a curse which had been put on Henry when he forcefully acquired Syon house. It had previously been a monastery.
Raja said that some parts of the river beaches reminded her of the Nile in Sudan
Most of Isleworth church was set on fire by arsonists in 1943. The church now consists of a fourteenth century tower and a nave built in 1970.
Heron in the channel seperating Richmond Old Deer Park from the river
Twickenham Bridge's bronze-plated hinges make it earthquake-proof
Richmond Bridge (built in 1777)
The very polluted river Wandle flows into the Thames at Wandsworth. It is said to be the fatest flowing tributary of the Thames but its mouth is dirty covered in tyres and shopping trolleys. 
Drinks at the Cats Back in Putney
Toby on the approach to Putney Bridge
Riverside trees at Hammersmith
Hammersmith Bridge
Just outside Greenwich we crossed Deptford Creek which is the mouth of the river Ravensbourne. Elizabeth I knighted the adventurer Sir Francis Drake on board his ship The Golden Hind in 1581. One of the first Royal Naval Dockyards was founded here by Henry VII in 1513. It closed in 1869.
Deptford was also the place where several doomed expeditions to find a shortcut to India set off from. Hugh Willoughby and Richard Chancellor set off on a quest in 1553 to find the 'Northeast Passage to India around the northern coast of Russia. They got as far as the White Sea on the eastern side of Finland. Most of the crew froze to death although Richard Chancellor trudged overland to Moscow to establish trade with the court of Ivan the Terrible.
Twenty years later Martin Frobisher ventured on another series of futile journeys in an effort to find a route to India around the northern coast of Canada the so-called 'Northwest Passage' His expedition explored Baffin Island, Frobisher Bay and the Hudson Straits.
Deptford was also the home of the famous English diarist John Evelyn between 1620 and 1706. The Russian Czar Peter the Great stayed in his house Sayes Court for many months in the year 1698.
In Deptford Peter developed a fondness for hot brandy spiced with pepper. While drunk on this cocktail he liked to be pushed around in a wheelbarrow by his courtiers. John Evelyn was angered when Peter the Great's wheelbarrow destroyed his favourite holly hedge.
Raja, Ray and Stefania with Peter the Great
But Peter's real interest in Deptford was to carry out a piece of early industrial espionage ie to learn about English expertise in navigation and boat building. See detail in picture below.
