Today was going to be random Museum day, which Museum should we go look at, while Jeantine was at work. From Waterloo Station we zig zagged via Belverdere Rd to take a comparison photo of Westminster Bridge, then and now
The Parliament Building and Big Ben were the same as was the Bridge, and the lamposts but the Bus Stop had respositioned - and the buses themselves modernised.
Does this replicate the photo taken on my Kodak Retinette with 45mm lens (I think) 53 years ago. We chose a dull day to take this update, trying to match the path down to the left and place the lamp post in front of the first tower in from the right of the Parliament building.
We'd popped up a wet one, so may as well carry on walking on Westminster Bridge Rd to Kennington Rd and onto the Imperial War Museum from the Lambeth Rd entrance. We noted a potential cafe to check out on our return, the Riverside 2 at 18-20 Kennington Rd.
So where is the entrance to the Museum, maybe we should wander through the World Garden from Lambeth Street.
Sadly the World Garden was a little underwhelming, looking like it was suffering from a slight lack of care, similar to what my garden suffers from at home.
In 1967 the museum acquired a pair of 15-inch naval guns. One had been mounted on the Royal Navy's HMS Ramillies and the other on both HMS Resolution and HMS Roberts. Both had been fired in action during the Second World War. They went on permanent display outside the museum in May 1968. This information from Wikipedia
Another view of the big guns, from a different angle - after we had wandered through the Tibetan Garden
The inscription says The overall design of the Tibetan Peace Garden symbolizes the meeting of East and West, by bringing together contemporary western imagery with traditional Tibetan culture. The circular shape of the garden, for expample, is based on the fundamental Buddist image, the Wheel of Dharma,
Perhaps the ground under the trees was dry enough for a reclining break. Time to go inside
We went up one floor to take the video then back down to the main floor, past this girl who thought the information stand seemed an interesting item to climb. Hopefully one day her curiosity will lead her to explore the story of the First World War. Quite harrowing and exhausting to delve into the madness of humanity and the machinations of Nations and their leaders. The photo of the girl was taken at 12:38 and we emerged onto Lambeth Walk at 1:55. Just over one hour at the First World War exhibit floor was tiring as we tried to absorb the immensity of human folly. Time to get back outside and maybe find that Cafe that looked promising.
Well that Cafe, on Kennignton Road, The Hub Coffee House I think it was, looked almost all out of food and thus not so appealing so we moved on toward an encounter with a Costa Cafe. Jeantine had tried to steer us from such a place but it seemed one of the options right close by and so in we went to find that Jeantine was right. A franchise cafe with no personality or style, with central kitchen supplied food options.
We should have done a Google search for Cafes to see these options showing on this map
Post coffee stop and 2:51pm. Under the Waterloo Rail Bridge, retracing our steps back to Waterloo Station - what a noise from the trains rattling overhead and the sound of vehicles reverberating back off the hard surfaces.
And what were all these white spots on the pavement. Pigeons? No detritus from gum chewing humans - what an untidy species we can be.
It is reassuring to find the clock on the buiding across the road matches what the camera indicates - 2:57
I took this photo as I was intrigued at how London motorists are obliged to be patient, especially truck drivers trying to negotiate narrow streets with the occasional large loads, in this case of steel reinforcing being delivered to a construction site. London seems to be constantly rebuilding.
I think we were up at 4am, and waiting for the Uber driver to find us in the pre-dawn light at Ganley Court by York Park. We saw him at the other end of the road by the Park. On the way, he seemed to be unfamiliar with the area we were heading, using more than one GPS device, including his smart phone.
We were delivered to a commercial area and we could see other people arriving and followed where they were heading between buildings. This was a photo I took at 5:45 which shows where we were cautiously moving across in the dark. Part way along we had come across a guide who gave further directions, which led to a door and a set of stairs. There was a utility lift that the catering people and organisers were using, obviously not for us. At the top of the stairs we came out to what appeared to be a roof top entertainment / event area.
The was quite a gathering of photo buffs and it was announced there were professional photographers in attendance who would move around and offer any assistance and engage in general photo 'shop talk'.
London was starting to wake up and zooming in we could see the Shard and the Walkie Talkie. There's also a Wikipedia page listing London's tallest buildings and structures.
. I took two shots of this scene and this one caught the flashing bulbs in 'on mode'
Composition converstions
People taking photos, I don't think I got Jeantine in any of my photos
Snacks and drinks were available by a cluster of cell phone antennas. I guess cell phone coverage would've been excellent.
There was a constant stream of aircraft on approach to Heathrow I guess.
Two women were employed to provide some graceful movement and colour as the morning got brighter
And looking over to one side of the rooftop, we could see railway lines and the central city to the east and on 'tother side apartment buildings ...
Before leaving the venue, Both Jeantine and I lined up for converting one of our jpegs into a Polaroid print. The colours really didn't do much for me with the image I chose, and I think I threw it away
Heading back down to ground level we were looking for a suitable bus that would take us back to Ganley Court. The only restaurant or cafe we found open was a McDonalds and we both got a coffee but, it was so hot I burnt my mouth. Oops, not the morning pick-me-up I was looking forward to but, the organisers must've been happy with the sunrise we all got to experience.
Jeantine went off to work for the day so Barb and I went for a looping walk to Battersea Park and back. This sign, at 48 Battersea High Street, about 'Summer is nearly here' caught my eye, with that blackboard in the sun and signs of rain on the ground. This walk was also used to scope the best route to cycle from Ganley Court to Battersea Park to meet JB, Steve & Annette for our next planned ride.
I tried a ride on my own, going across to the Thames Pathway from York Gardens / Ganley Court and then along past the Helicopter Port and joined Battersea Church Road and down to Park Road, finding the motorists were quite tolerant of cyclists but you had to be reasonably assertive if coming
to a pinch point that you would take the lead and the cars would sit behind you. If you hesitated though, they would power past. I got to the Parkgate Rd and Albert Bridge Rd intersection and in the right lane but the sign across the road said no through traffic into Carriage Drive North in Battersea Park. While I was pondering my best options, another cyclist joined me and on the green light, I followed his lead in going straight through across the road, just where I wanted to go. Thank you to the local rider in giving the lead.
On the way back on the bike to our airbnb I noticed a busy cafe on this corner bend and made a mental to go back and check out their delicious looking food.
Day Two of the RideLondon Festival and more traffic restrictions, as we headed to the LIttle Venice Canal
starting with a call into a Cafe on, or near a road bridge at the start of the canal where there is a tow path to walk along. From what I remember the cafe was rather busy and we couldn't get right inside to see the layout that shows on their website
You can hear Barb telling Jeantine that Larry Chamley is going to be taking us on a longboat ride up in Manchester.
I don't recall going past the London Zoo but this YouTube video of Regent's Canal Litte Venice shows the part of the Zoo where it meets the canal - about 17 mins in.
Jeantine's bare legs showing in contrast to the burka wearing women sitting on the bench seat.
We were heading to Primrose Hill and I hadn't realised, until I saw the video, (with the link above to You Tube, which shows from Little Venice to Camden). that I was later to go on the other end of Regent's Canal, from the Thames, taking the path under the river from the Greenwich footway tunnel to Limehouse Basin and then following tow paths to head up to Camden.
When living in the confines of a longboat, I imagine getting outside when the weather allows does have its appeal. The slide show of photos does show the electrical connections, although I'm not sure how they do a sewer connection? Some areas of the tow path have fenced off gardens and sheds between the path and the bank up to the land above.
This is near where we left the canal path and headed up to Primrose Hill
One bright cloud
Lots of people enjoying time out, looking at the view, enjoying the company of others, or reading the paper. Finding a place to sit was a changing rotation and Barb managed to find a spot and Jeantine was checking her smart phone, maybe for the best route away from Primrose Hill.
Another attempt (after outside the Centre Georges Pompidou) of a selfie, not quite getting myself enough into the frame.
Lets head down that path where the jogger is going
The sun was coming through giving a warm glow to the dried grass, whereas the sky offered dark tones
Back on a Bus and stopping at Green Park, at the end of the second day of RideLondon. You can see some of the 'Boris' hire bikes on their stands.
The camera's GPS marks this as Duke of Wellington Place
