PART 2 UK
12 Jul
Disembarked early from Black Watch at Liverpool. Picked up hire car, wandered around a bit and had brunch with uni friend I hadn't seen for about 50 years.
Super long pole for cleaning windows.
Went to Antrobus to stay with sister. Caught up with nephew and family at their lovely new house.
14 Jul
We went to visit ancient aunt Imelda (my mother's sister) in Lancashire and she generously treated us to nice lunch in a sunny pub garden.
16 Jul
Visited old friend in Wirral and dropped in at Brimstage Hall for some souvenirs/craft.
17 Jul
Flew BA from Manchester to Heathrow. Paid my usual hommage to Isembard Kingdom Brunel, or Brunowl as he is depicted here at Paddington Station. I am grumpy as I am still getting over the 1 hour long security queue at Manchester. We eventually (a whole sad story in itself) gained access to our rented flat in Fulham and set about purchasing essentials like food and grog. Over the next few days we did a bit of sightseeing and met a largish group of uni friends for a reunion lunch near Victoria.
20 Jul
We thought we would while away a few days on the Thames Path and started at the Thames Barrier.
We wound up the 1st day over a pint or two at t
his outdoor bar near Tower Bridge.
21 Jul
We went back to tower Bridge and made our way to our flat at Fulham, taking in quite a few iconic sights. Getting through the throngs of tourists at the Houses of Parliament was bit time consuming. Hard to see why they bother with all the baricades and Big Ben under scaffolding.
22 Jul
We continued along the Thames from our flat in Fulham and made it to Kew Gardens for a bit of a wander, lunch and then tube back to flat.
The scenery is becoming gradually less urban.
Very pleased to see they are looking after the Wollomi Pines we sent them.
23 Jul
No Thames Path today. We visited the V&A Museum and the Natural History Museum where we had lunch. On our way there we went to the Equadorian Embassy hoping to catch a glimpse of Julian. There appears to be a constant phalanx of photographers and well wishers on both footpaths,
24 Jul
5:15 am departure from our flat. Alison returned tor Sydney and I went to Dolomites for some more hiking [see Part 3].
1 Aug
I returned to London and checked in at Premier Inn Heathrow for 4 nights. Felt a bit like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, except I was allowed out. Due to logisitics in traveling from Dolomites via Venice & London City Airport I did not check in till about 4 pm. However daylight hours are still very long so I figured I could do a little bit more of the Thames Path. I returned by public transport to Kew Gardens to pick up where Alison & I had left off.
I made it to this pub at Kingston by 9 pm for dinner (Fish & Chips). The tide had recently covered the road. Evidently these high tides draw the crowds. See this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DjAzUaf4FQ
2 Aug
Lots of people use the river for recreation.
Teddington Locks,
Arrived for lunch at restaurant near Hampton Court Palace, then did a tour. It was well worth it as there was lots of entertainement laid on.
I caught these guys in an argument with a woman, I was slow to realize it was an act put on for my amusement.
The best bit was a play in the main hall. King Henry entertained us.
This garden is closed off to the public. Hence its immacualate condition.
This is supposedly the world's oldest and largest vine. I gave up trying to see it in 1973 as the queues were so long. this time I was the only one there!
I continued onto Walton-on-Thames and went hunting for a restaurant for nice rewarding evening meal. By this time I was getting tired of pub fare and needed a treat. Walking in the heat saps ones energy. Temperatures were low 30's and there is little shade on the path. Found great Italian café/deli Carluccio's. They looked after me well and it made me very happy. I was getting near the limit of easy transport back to Heathrow and outside the London Bus area and Oyster Card, but had found a bus that went infrequently to Heathrow so timed my meal to get the last one at about 9:45 pm.
3 Aug
Returned using same bus service from Terminal 4 to Walton and continued on the path. I was aiming for Windsor but again the heat was getting to me and I called it quits at Staines where there was a railway station for return to my hotel. I ate dinner at the hotel and it wasn't too bad. Needed to pack ready for an early departure for home.
My 1st ferry crossing of the river. This is the bell I rang to summon the ferry man. He was quite surprised to see anyone walking in this heat. I lied and said this was like an average day in Sydney and so was nothing at all to me.
Mooring fees are quite steep in these parts. That doesn't seem to deter people. There are boats moored everywhere.
GO TO PART 3 FOR DOLOMITES
Disembarked early from Black Watch at Liverpool. Picked up hire car, wandered around a bit and had brunch with uni friend I hadn't seen for about 50 years.
Super long pole for cleaning windows.
Went to Antrobus to stay with sister. Caught up with nephew and family at their lovely new house.
14 Jul
We went to visit ancient aunt Imelda (my mother's sister) in Lancashire and she generously treated us to nice lunch in a sunny pub garden.
15 Jul
Went to Warrington steam festival. There was a huge display of steam engines fantastically restored.
16 Jul
Visited old friend in Wirral and dropped in at Brimstage Hall for some souvenirs/craft.
17 Jul
Flew BA from Manchester to Heathrow. Paid my usual hommage to Isembard Kingdom Brunel, or Brunowl as he is depicted here at Paddington Station. I am grumpy as I am still getting over the 1 hour long security queue at Manchester. We eventually (a whole sad story in itself) gained access to our rented flat in Fulham and set about purchasing essentials like food and grog. Over the next few days we did a bit of sightseeing and met a largish group of uni friends for a reunion lunch near Victoria.
20 Jul
We thought we would while away a few days on the Thames Path and started at the Thames Barrier.
At Deptford we came across this weird statue of Peter the Great. He evidently spent three months here. He and his entourage managed to trash their lodgings in drunken revelry. They used the paintings hanging on the wall for target practice. Christopher Wren acting for the Treasury had to bail him out. He was AirBnB's worst nighmare. He was a bit kinky and had a thing abour dwarfs. The tiny head is Deptford's revenge.
We wound up the 1st day over a pint or two at t
his outdoor bar near Tower Bridge.
We went back to tower Bridge and made our way to our flat at Fulham, taking in quite a few iconic sights. Getting through the throngs of tourists at the Houses of Parliament was bit time consuming. Hard to see why they bother with all the baricades and Big Ben under scaffolding.
22 Jul
We continued along the Thames from our flat in Fulham and made it to Kew Gardens for a bit of a wander, lunch and then tube back to flat.
Very pleased to see they are looking after the Wollomi Pines we sent them.
23 Jul
No Thames Path today. We visited the V&A Museum and the Natural History Museum where we had lunch. On our way there we went to the Equadorian Embassy hoping to catch a glimpse of Julian. There appears to be a constant phalanx of photographers and well wishers on both footpaths,
24 Jul
5:15 am departure from our flat. Alison returned tor Sydney and I went to Dolomites for some more hiking [see Part 3].
1 Aug
I returned to London and checked in at Premier Inn Heathrow for 4 nights. Felt a bit like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, except I was allowed out. Due to logisitics in traveling from Dolomites via Venice & London City Airport I did not check in till about 4 pm. However daylight hours are still very long so I figured I could do a little bit more of the Thames Path. I returned by public transport to Kew Gardens to pick up where Alison & I had left off.
I made it to this pub at Kingston by 9 pm for dinner (Fish & Chips). The tide had recently covered the road. Evidently these high tides draw the crowds. See this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DjAzUaf4FQ
2 Aug
Lots of people use the river for recreation.
Teddington Locks,
I caught these guys in an argument with a woman, I was slow to realize it was an act put on for my amusement.
This garden is closed off to the public. Hence its immacualate condition.
This is supposedly the world's oldest and largest vine. I gave up trying to see it in 1973 as the queues were so long. this time I was the only one there!
I continued onto Walton-on-Thames and went hunting for a restaurant for nice rewarding evening meal. By this time I was getting tired of pub fare and needed a treat. Walking in the heat saps ones energy. Temperatures were low 30's and there is little shade on the path. Found great Italian café/deli Carluccio's. They looked after me well and it made me very happy. I was getting near the limit of easy transport back to Heathrow and outside the London Bus area and Oyster Card, but had found a bus that went infrequently to Heathrow so timed my meal to get the last one at about 9:45 pm.
3 Aug
Returned using same bus service from Terminal 4 to Walton and continued on the path. I was aiming for Windsor but again the heat was getting to me and I called it quits at Staines where there was a railway station for return to my hotel. I ate dinner at the hotel and it wasn't too bad. Needed to pack ready for an early departure for home.
My 1st ferry crossing of the river. This is the bell I rang to summon the ferry man. He was quite surprised to see anyone walking in this heat. I lied and said this was like an average day in Sydney and so was nothing at all to me.
Mooring fees are quite steep in these parts. That doesn't seem to deter people. There are boats moored everywhere.
END OF PART 2
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