Grand Circle Travel: England, Scotland, and Wales
We began our second UK tour - England, Scotland, and Wales, with a 4-day pre-trip in London. Between the two trips and an open day between them, we were able to be in London and its surrounding areas for a total of 7 days. During that time, we were able to visit many museums and different places we had put on a pre-trip list of things to do. That, plus all the interesting places we went during the tour, capped off a wonderful 33 days in the UK.
GCT: England, Scotland, and Wales
Sun., 6/5/16 – London and Greenwich on our own
We made good use of our free day in London. We took the City Clipper river boat/taxi down the river to see the “Thames Barriers.” When there is an unusually high tide or storm in the English Channel the barrier gates rotate up to stop water coming into the Thames from the English Channel and North Sea.
Our boat turned around at Woolwich and the Royal Arsenal and went past (again) the O2 arena and the cable car people mover from the O2 over the Thames to the train station and parking lots. This was the 2012 Olympics site for the basketball finals, gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, and trampoline.
City Clipper
City Clipper is a catamaran with a "see through" hull
The O2 Arena
"People mover" to get from the Tube and parking over to the O2 Arena
Thames Barriers
Thames Barriers
Thames Barriers
Thames Barriers - the "blade" between the barriers is rotated up when there is an unusually high tide or storm
Wind turbines atop apartment buildings
The old riverfront buildings in the foreground backed by the modern buildings behind
We got off at Greenwich and spent all day there at the Royal Museums Greenwich. We walked among the defunct Royal Naval College buildings and visited the Painted Hall. Sir Christopher Wren designed the hall in 1698 and it was used as a dining room for Royal Navy pensioners. Sir James Thornhill painted the ceiling and walls. It took him 19 years. The Painted Hall is considered “The Greatest Piece of decorative painting in England.”
We also visited the Naval Chapel where baptisms were taking place, so we only got one picture.
Underground between the Painted Hall and the Chapel of SS Peter and Paul, is the old Skittle Alley, the beginning of modern bowling. Since many pensioners couldn’t read and therefore use the library, someone put in two skittle lanes. The pins were belaying pins used to tie up ropes on ships and the balls were wooden practice cannon balls. Visitors are able to try rolling a wooden ball to knock down the pins and then reset the pins.
Entrance to the Royal Museums Greenwich
Buildings of the former Royal Naval College
Painted Hall
Painted Hall
Painted Hall
Painted Hall
Skittle Alley
Skittle pins and balls
Skittle Alley
We walked across the street, passing the Queen’s Palace, and up the hill to the Royal Observatory. Outside the entry is a 24-hour clock (with 12 at the bottom) and measurement standards for yard, foot, 6-inches, and 3-inches
After eating the sandwiches I had made at breakfast, we waited for the time ball to rise and drop. In the 1800’s ship captains could see the ball and set their timepieces to it. The ball rises halfway up a mast/pole at 12:55, goes to the top at 12:58 and descends at 13:00. This system enabled navigators aboard ships offshore to verify the setting of their marine chronometers because accurate timekeeping is essential to the determination of longitude at sea.
Royal Naval College Coat of Arms
Interesting manhole cover
24-hour clock and measurement standards
24-hour clock
Time ball
Time ball rising
Time ball at the top
Time ball falling
1 PM
Royal Observatory
Royal Observatory
Sign apparently found all over the UK - distance to the nearest fire hydrant
We took each other’s picture straddling the Greenwich Prime Meridian and then learned about time keeping and how longitude is figured while touring the museum. There was too much information and all-inclusive exhibits of timepieces from sand hourglasses and sundials to pendulum clocks to quartz to atomic watches. In 1884 Greenwich Prime became the official 0° longitude and the world was divided into 24 time zones.
We also looked at the Halley and the Bradley Meridians and old telescopes. It was too much to absorb, but very fascinating. (Link 2)
Marge astride the Prime Meridian
Gale astride the Prime Meridian
Longitude of various world cities
Longitude of various world cities
From the Royal Observatory
Gates to the royal Museums Greenwich
We walked around the Cutty Sark ship that is exhibited in Greenwich and walked through some crowded streets of Greenwich town. It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday and people were outside in the parks and towns enjoying it all.
We were lucky and got an express City Clipper back to the Tower Pier.
Ship in a bottle
The Cutty Sark
On a normal day the depth of the tide change in London is 24 feet. Even at ebb tide there is enough water depth for the riverboats. Pictured are high and low tide marks for two different locations.
Traitor's Gate at low tide
Traitor's Gate at high tide
Beach across from our hotel at low tide
Beach across from our hotel at high tide
City Clipper headed upriver
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