....Well we nearly started with a disaster. Got onto wrong platform at Norwich and realised we were too late to get our bikes onto the train.... it went without us.! All ended well though and no horrendously expensive extra ticket..Everyone felt rather sorry for us !
Boris J has done the most amazing job of cycle paths in London and we zig zagged our way from Liverpool St Station to Weybridge crossing the river 5 times ! We stopped to have lunch with Ella in the shadow of Big Ben and The H of P. It took us about 5 hours in the end to get from East to West and with our rather circuitous route (not getting lost once) we travelled about 50 miles along the Thames. Only one 'near miss' We were on one of these new Super cycle Highways in Chelsea and Sal slowed down for a taxi pulling out of a garage. He thought she was stopping and put his foot down. How Sal managed to swerve round him I 'll never know, but she did, with me SCREAMING at anyone who would listen as broken hips and squashed bikes flashed into my brain. Both our hearts thudded for quite a time after that !
There is so much to be proud of in London. It's bustling, clean, exciting, dramatic, fast and furious and beautiful. The river traffic changed at every bridge starting with HMS Belfast, ferries and working boats then the houseboats, then the rowers and then the cruisers. We passed through fabulous old markets, soaked up everything in Westminster, goggled at the houses in Chelsea. We crossed Richmond Park and cycled passed Hampton Court which is completely breathtaking. Today we saw bits of London we just didn't know existed. Off to Reading tomorrow and the kennet and Avon Canal Path.
We are good at getting lost but we do know this picture doesn't show us travelling from LONDON TO FALMOUTH, but thats where we are heading next! Waterproofs are ready and we set off on the 9th march 2012.
