The Moody Thames

Today I had the pleasure of cycling over Waterloo Bridge for the first time. It took my breath away. The river surprised me with its ozone smell - I normally associate that scent with the sea, but here it was, right at the heart of London. The sun was bright, but the wind strong too, and the light was powerful on the river, glinting off the London Eye, the glass buildings, and of course the water. Looking up and down the river (I had to cross to either side of the road to get the full effect) I had the sense of just how important the river had been to London's life over the years. Watching the river traffic it struck me how the Thames was London's first super highway, and the river itself coursed with the life of the city. Without it, would there even be a London?