Helen Stephenson's Stroll along the Thames (15th March, 2006)

I left the office and walked down to London Bridge for a first look at HMS Somerset, but decided that I wouldn't take any pictures from the vantage point of London Bridge on this occasion.

I descended the stairs which come out below London Bridge, and as there was still some colour in the sky, I had a look to the west to see what I could see, and my eye was caught by Swan Lane Pier.

The first two pictures show the last of the colour in the sky.

The final picture zooms in closer to the Pier and had a little help from PhotoShop to make it look like it was later than it really was.

My eye was also caught by Southwark Cathedral, peeping out between its more modern neighbours along the river.

Then I walked back under London Bridge and stopped to take a picture of London Bridge (lit in red on its east side) and the building known as No.1 London Bridge.

After that, it was on to the impetus behind my walk that evening: HMS Somerset. She was moored alongside of HMS Belfast, but the crew hadn't had time to get the portable floodlights working, so the more brightly lit HMS Belfast and the More London Buildings in the background have whited out.

I couldn't resist a shot of Tower Bridge as I walked in front of the Tower of London. There's a fence post along there that's just about on first name terms with my beanbag!

Next in my line of sight was City Hall

Then I crossed Tower Bridge and stopped to take this picture of HMS Somerset and HMS Belfast from the vantage point of the south tower.

The only other worthwhile picture I took was this one of City Pier

I did try to get some pictures of Plantation Place (a new building on Fenchurch Street) but the beanbag proved not to be a steady enough support and those pictures will get quietly buried in my archives.