please empty your brain below

Richmond was pretty damp around high tide. I unfortunately missed it at its highest point, but even fifteen minutes later it was still lapping at the foot of Water Lane, cutting off the towpath in both directions. A further thirty minutes and the road outside the White Cross was passable only with wellies, a bike or an agnostic approach to drenched trousers and sodden shoes - and still a little above the "normal" high point for Spring tides. And, as with your experience DG, there were plenty of mystified people about who had apparently never seen high water before, despite Richmond being no stranger to flooding along the riverside.
Oh yes, it's a big one. It will be nearly 20 years before we see the likes of this again.
That was a very good read,DG. Thank you. Excellent photos too đź‘Ť
Just be grateful the spring tide did not coincide with a drepression over the North Sea. 1953, 1978, 2013, ...

No doubt the Museum of London does free guided walks ... *ouch*
"The amplitude of tides fluctuates monthly with the moon phases, producing “spring” tides and “neap” tides, but also over an 18.6 year tidal cycle due to the changes in the alignment of the earth, moon and sun. Over the next year, astronomical tide levels will be at their largest in this 18.6 year cycle and we will experience high tide levels in particular in September 2014, February 2015 and August/September 2015."
Another fascinating article. I don't know how you manage it!
In Richmond if you go to the north side of Richmond Bridge (the non town end) on a warm summers day - there is a road that leads down to the towpath - there is normally at least one motorist who has been tempted to park their car too far down this road.

One of the free entertainments is to go there as the tide comes in.
"Access to the River Thames" by Peter Finch/riverthamessociety.org has a pdf file which may prove useful to anyone interested in access points. It slightly out-of-date (2010) but still a good starting point.
This explains why I've not been able to get my clipper to work most days this week - tides in Putney have been super low in the mornings and so the boat couldn't stop at Wandsworth Pier. Thought it all looked exceptionally low - now I know why - thanks DG!
The PLA website has some more safety advice aimed at metal detectorists (who need a permit), but which also applies to anyone going on the foreshore - footwear, communications, being aware of Weil's Disease, escape route etc. I think I'll stick to the bits near some stairs, in case the tide comes in while I'm too busy looking around or down!
It's very rare that I do something in London before DG posts about it, but last Sunday I walked west along the riverbed on the South bank from the stretch past Tate Modern to Hungerford Bridge. I had no idea that it was a particularly low tide - I just saw a lot of 'beach' and decided to explore. It was great. I recommend it. Thanks for the post DG.
Fascinating post. I love going down on the foreshore, though I too tend not to go too far from the steps. It's a whole different view from down there, and makes me feel a deeper connection with the city of my birth.
Have made a note in my calendar about Aug/Sept.
I had assumed the Thames Barrier would mean it was not really any different to a usual high tide. Obviously not though - I used to walk that river path every day and I never saw it flooded. Obviously it does happen though.
Very interesting. When I was in London a few weeks ago I found it interesting how fast the tide was going out and the speed the water was rushing under the bridges. No wonder it is so easy to drown in the river. There would be no way to swim against it for the average swimmer.
I never understood why you would swim against the tide - just angle yoursefl ashore down stream. Presume it is no where near that easy in practice!
There are some nice pictures on www.greenwich.co.uk of the path at the Royal Naval College under water.
My daughter was watching the high tide at Greenwich yesterday and saw about 15 cormorants diving for grub. She got a great pic of one drying it's wings.
A pretty rare sight this far up-river I would have thought, and I assume something to do with the high tide.
Anyone out there know?
@ Chris
We get cormorants as far up as Kingston quite frequently
I'm quite fond of the foreshore. There's loads of odd bits of pottery there. I prefer the big chalk stones though - I can make impromptu graffiti that gets washed away by the tide.
fantastic post, dg.

You might be interested in this story of what some very targeted beachcombing turned up recently.
The PLA has a handy guide to tide times on the Thames
http://www.pla.co.uk/Safety/Tide-Tables
Interesting post, DG, thanks.

Rick, if you want to see a river really rushing to the sea try the Arun at Arundel on a falling tide!
I must be dumb...I not know how to add "links" in comments box.
timbo - Wow! Thanks.
Anyone know what the crane and coffer dam (if that is what it is) in between blackfriars station and the millenium footbridge is doing in the middle of the river? https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer/16604997321/










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