the water that included dinner as it travelled along the Thames River. The Captain Kidd Islander was another boat that sailed the Thames in the 1980s. Boat cruises ran up and down the Byron portion of the Thames until around 2005. Today, canoers and kayakers are likely the only boats one might see on this part of the river. With the Springbank Dam inoperative since 2008 and fluctuating water levels, the Thames River in the Byron area has become more of a sanctuary for endangered aquatic life, and its recreational role has shifted to a silent, yet beautiful, companion accompanying the many walking and bike trails that follow its shores.
Tinkerbell
and cruise excursions that launched from the dock beside the carousel in front of Storybook Gardens. The Storybook Queen and Tinkerbell were two paddlewheel boats that ran cruises along the Thames in the 1960s. C. Hadley Tomlin built both boats, which were owned and operated by Audrey and Ron Seabrook. Individual paddle boats could be rented from the Springbank dock as well. The Storybook Queen’s maiden voyage launched on Saturday, June 28, 1969. She was a miniature riverboat that brought to life the turn of the century era for modern-day Londoners. The Storybook Queen cruise was also an enchanting evening out on
Paddle boats on the Thames
Riverboat on the Thames, 1980s
Photos courtesy of the Ivey Family London Room, London Public Library Source:
*Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. “The Thames River Watershed and Traditional Territory.” www.thamesriver. on.ca/about-us/thames-river-watershed-and-traditional- territory/. Accessed 15 September 2024.
Captain Kidd Islander, 1980s
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