Everybody taking part in the pageant has to attend a rehearsal to get an overview of the route and the hazards including bridges along the way.  As we could not get Grumpy Bear Too to London for the weekend we were allocated places on another participants boat – and what a nice boat it was too, a Broom 44.   Fiona and I decided to make a weekend of it staying in London overnight on the Saturday so that we could hit the shops and do the sights.   Then, we were up early on Sunday morning to be at Imperial Wharf Pier for an 0830 briefing and to embark on our host’s boat.   We would follow the pageant route from Richmond to just beyond Tower Bridge, completing various manoeuvres on route including an emergency stop.   We also got to see the temporary mooring buoys being put in by the Port of London Authority where we will moor overnight on Saturday 2nd June immediately before the pageant.

Work Starts Laying the Temporary Mooring Buoys for Overnight Muster

 The rehearsal went very well; it was great fun going through London 4 abreast through the bridges led by the Port of London Authority Harbour Master on the lead boat.  The emergency stop procedure was very entertaining – lets hope we don’t have to carry it out on the day.