Prior to the Rally commencing the Lea Rivers Trust weed clearer swept the site.
The Rally was opened by the Chair of the London Borough Of Newham.
The first of the Saturday cruises organised by St Pancras Cruising Club went out of Bow Lock, up the Channelsea Creek ...
... and back via the tidal pool in front of the tidal mills.
The boat in the foreground is in Bow lock and the boat in the background is on Bow Creek.
Boats in Bow lock...
... which has been rebuilt with double bottom gates so that they now hold back the tide and its silt.
Boats leaving Bow lock to return to the rally site.
A view of some of the boats attending the Rally.
Public trip boats were given on the Laburnham Boat Club boat "Opportunity" ...
... and the Lea Rivers Trust Trip boat "Pride Of Lea"
Some of the trade stands ...
Street entertainers were provided by the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority.
The second of the Saturday boat cruises visited the two ends of the Bow Back River that had recently been dredged.At City Mill Lock a stray lighter had to be moved ...
... before proceding up the City Mill Riverto the limit of dredging. (Above two photographs by Mike Stevens)
The boats then went back to the main line and proceded up to the Old River Lea to Carpenters Road lock ...
... for which plans are currently being drawn up for its restoration.
The whole of the Bow Back River loop was supposed to have been dredged ahead of the rally but financial constraints mean that the main City Mill River will not be dredeged until later on.
A boat returning from Carpenters Road along the Old River Lea.
On the Saturday evening their was a boaters BBQ and Quiz ...
... and the judging for the best illuminated boat took place, "Rita M" shown here won the first prize.
Later on their was an impromptu fire juggling display.
Throughout the weekend the Tideway Adventurers were giving "Have a go" canoe training as well as giving invaluable help with the running of the Rally and running the trip boat on the Sunday.
Dave Young of IWA South London Branch bought along his swings ...
... and local band "Bow Connections" gave regular performances.
Others had a relaxing time!!
British Waterways bought along their stand ...
... as did the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority.
Children taking part in traditional street games ...
... and on the Sunday a local church held an outdoor service.
On Sunday afternoon the rally prizes were presented, here the Dunkley's receive the prize for the best decorated boat, this year's theme was "50 Glorious Tears"
Skippers cerificates were also awarded to the Tideway Adventurers
All thet was left then was to pack up the site ...
... some people using different methods to others!