As I set off our road was still covered with ice, normally I might have just put the bike back into the garage and took the car, but today I was on a mission.
I headed out to Dartford Heath to pick up the A2 my chosen route into the Capital.
The next part on my route took me over Blackheath so named because it was the site of a mass grave of victims of the Plague. Although up untill a few days ago it was a Whiteheath
Whilst upon Blackheath I took the opportunity to visit the Royal Observatory.
The red ball on the mast above the Old Observatory drops at 1300hrs every day. It was important to ships navigators on the Thames could accurately set their clocks enabling them to tell at which longitude they where in the worlds oceans.
Next to the observatory there is a viewing area overlooking The National Maritime
Museum, The Queens House and over the river towards The Isle of Dogs.
Onwards ever onwards we reach our first chance to legally used a bus lane. This
particular lane runs around he front of Goldsmiths College on the New Cross one way system.
This little boozer used to be a good place for a punch up and a bit of smelly finger back in the 70’s, probably still is now.
My next location was Peckham. Manzes Eel and Pie shop...Luverly Grub.
Further down the road is the horticultural delight that is Camberwell Green. A little oasis in a concrete desert.
On my way to the river crossing at Battersea I make a small detour to here. If you are late for your train don’t be tempted to run to try to catch it at this station, you’d be better off waiting for the next one.
I briefly stop to photograph the two buildings that Battersea is famous for.
I pulled into Battersea Park to photograph Jemima and Rupert out for a run and my chosen crossing route...Chelsea Bridge.
As I rode down Chelsea Embankment I stopped to photograph the little floating shanty town where the boat people live. I left my motor running just in case they took exception to my intrusion into their squalid little lives.
The Chance for photo opportunities ended here as, the roads got more challenging, I was also worried about getting out anything valuable in the Ghettos of Fulham and Chelsea, I was running well behind schedule and to cap it all I was busting for a slash so I forged on through Earls Court up onto the A40 off at hanger Lane and on to my destination.
Just one picture that shows the true “Hedgehog in Pocket” spirit, note the panniers made out of old plastic containers.....Hard-core....To the Max.
My route back was not so much of a trial. I took the more sedate North Circular Road but instead of turning off onto the A13 to the Dartford Crossing I carried on to the Woolwich Ferry and the last few photos are of my triumphant return to the south side of the river.
The North Ferry Terminal border control.
Mid channel looking west towards the Thames Barrier, the O2 Arena and the Isle of
Dogs.
The steering department, “All ahead both number one”.
After a smooth crossing we dock at the South Ferry Terminal.
It turned out to be one of those days that will stay with me for the rest of my life, I met with fellow forum members and like minded adventure seekers, and as I sat and listened to the ticking of my slowly cooling engine in the warm winter sunshine, I had a silent prayer of thanks that I had the time, the money and the opportunity to finally join the likes of Sam, Austin, Lois and Nick and to count myself as one of the true Overland Adventurers.
I headed out to Dartford Heath to pick up the A2 my chosen route into the Capital.
The next part on my route took me over Blackheath so named because it was the site of a mass grave of victims of the Plague. Although up untill a few days ago it was a Whiteheath
Whilst upon Blackheath I took the opportunity to visit the Royal Observatory.
The red ball on the mast above the Old Observatory drops at 1300hrs every day. It was important to ships navigators on the Thames could accurately set their clocks enabling them to tell at which longitude they where in the worlds oceans.
Next to the observatory there is a viewing area overlooking The National Maritime
Museum, The Queens House and over the river towards The Isle of Dogs.
Onwards ever onwards we reach our first chance to legally used a bus lane. This
particular lane runs around he front of Goldsmiths College on the New Cross one way system.
This little boozer used to be a good place for a punch up and a bit of smelly finger back in the 70’s, probably still is now.
My next location was Peckham. Manzes Eel and Pie shop...Luverly Grub.
Further down the road is the horticultural delight that is Camberwell Green. A little oasis in a concrete desert.
On my way to the river crossing at Battersea I make a small detour to here. If you are late for your train don’t be tempted to run to try to catch it at this station, you’d be better off waiting for the next one.
I briefly stop to photograph the two buildings that Battersea is famous for.
I pulled into Battersea Park to photograph Jemima and Rupert out for a run and my chosen crossing route...Chelsea Bridge.
As I rode down Chelsea Embankment I stopped to photograph the little floating shanty town where the boat people live. I left my motor running just in case they took exception to my intrusion into their squalid little lives.
The Chance for photo opportunities ended here as, the roads got more challenging, I was also worried about getting out anything valuable in the Ghettos of Fulham and Chelsea, I was running well behind schedule and to cap it all I was busting for a slash so I forged on through Earls Court up onto the A40 off at hanger Lane and on to my destination.
Just one picture that shows the true “Hedgehog in Pocket” spirit, note the panniers made out of old plastic containers.....Hard-core....To the Max.
My route back was not so much of a trial. I took the more sedate North Circular Road but instead of turning off onto the A13 to the Dartford Crossing I carried on to the Woolwich Ferry and the last few photos are of my triumphant return to the south side of the river.
The North Ferry Terminal border control.
Mid channel looking west towards the Thames Barrier, the O2 Arena and the Isle of
Dogs.
The steering department, “All ahead both number one”.
After a smooth crossing we dock at the South Ferry Terminal.
It turned out to be one of those days that will stay with me for the rest of my life, I met with fellow forum members and like minded adventure seekers, and as I sat and listened to the ticking of my slowly cooling engine in the warm winter sunshine, I had a silent prayer of thanks that I had the time, the money and the opportunity to finally join the likes of Sam, Austin, Lois and Nick and to count myself as one of the true Overland Adventurers.
