London Wanderings - Moving on from Duke of York Square to RideLondon Festival at Green Park and Kensington Gardens - Saturday 30 Jul 2016

This was the day we had trouble getting into town on the bus because of RideLondon, with roads full of cyclists enjoying being able to ride the roads as part RideLondon. The bus we were on had to slow right down as we crossed Battersea Bridge with big bunches of families and friends in front of the bus, having priority on their bikes. We eventually got past that first cluster and shortly after came to a stop because of planned road closures that Jeantine had not anticipated. With our bus being diverted from it usual route so frustrated Jeantine so that she pushed the emergency door button and hopped off the bus while it was stopped waiting for traffic to clear. We weren't quick enough to follow her before that front door closed and the driver said he could not let us off for safety reasons. The bus was then creeping forward at walking pace and Jeantine was on the footpath phoning us to get the driver to let us off and saying she should report that driver. Standing by the driver's internal window I was able to chat to him and after talking about people he knew that lived in Auckland, he opened the door for us and the three of us made our way on foot to The Rolling Stones Exhibition. After which, we headed to Green Park.

Green Park was certainly packed with people having a fun cycle day with various display areas set up, including an enclosed time trial circuit (Street Velodrome) and a bike jump challenge area, that might have been called the International Urban Trials competition area according to the Freecycle Weekend Timetable flyer / fold out map I picked up. This is where "A team of world and national champions who will tackle a series of breathtaking challenges using replica Boxton landmarks as obstacles and platforms."
I noticed these 'jump' bikes (not sure if there is a correct term for them) do not feature seats. These bike are not for sitting down upon. Via the Independent paper I came across a sponsored link about the history of RideLondon the largest mass-participation cycling festival in the world.

It seemed to be about converting energy into leaps and keeping your balance for takeoff and landing.

A real, sunny, family picnic feeling to the day We then moved across the road to The Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens

We had wandered around one side of The Serpentine and across to the Princess Diana Memorial Children's Playground before we got to this fascinating place, being a temporary installation - details in this link

We went inside and joined the queues of people lining up for a cuppa and snack and managed a find spare box to sit on.

After our coffee break we headed to Kensington Road via a golden statue ...

but on the way we came across some semi wildlife.

The Albert Memorial, across the road from the Royal Albert Hall, which we got to for a Night at the Proms later in August.










Catching a bus back to Ganley Court we decided to take a walk along the Thames Path, under the Wandsworth Bridge to The Ship, a 1786 gastropub with a wood-burning stove, riverside terrace and outdoor barbecue kitchen

This Pub struck me as having successfully combined its old original styling with the addition of a covered awning style dining area along with a Barbeque Area that looked out over the Thames. When we were there that area was packed with people sipping drinks and dancing out in the riverside terrace. Security guards keeping patrons within a defined area. The Ship website has an option where you can view their gallery of photos and from the menu perhaps my meal was 'Pie if the day with buttered seasonal vegetables'

After dinner it was a pleasant walk back along the Thames pathway toward York Park. Is that the Battersea Power Station being worked on where the crane is?
A photo by Jeantine capturing me in picture taking mode.

Looking under the Wandsworth Bridge

That same boat coming further along