Quirky Afterworker Ride
Well, only Natasha at the Needle. The massive drenching showers of earlier in the afternoon had completely disappeared and if you had planned to come, but changed your mind due to that earlier weather, you missed a treat. Over the bridge, through the mad mayhem that is rush hour Thames crossing traffic, for maybe a minute, down to the riverside and peace, calm, sun peeping through the clouds, for the next two hours or so. A real theme of this ride, Far from the Madding Crowd, you might say.
The ornamental canal was dotted with the nests of water birds. One fine swan stretched up to reveal one beautiful, huge, blue egg. We oohed and aaaahed at the coot chicks, bobbing up and down. Earlier, I had seen what looked to be a wagtail, but a yellow one, trying to drink. I have never seen a yellow one here before, anyone else? Or am I mistaken- definitely possible!
On through the two basins, Shadwell and Limehouse, to the Regent Canal. Natasha was a West Londoner, so was keen to know through just what parts of London we were weaving our way. The canal was quieter than at the weekend, and sometimes we were even able to ride alongside each other. At one point we passed a little fluffy pile of sleeping goslings, nestling together on the towpath, carefully guarded by both parents. I would have loved to photograph this, but the parents looked a bit large and fierce, so just squeeed! and rode by. We headed up the steep slope at the Islington tunnel, where the towpath and the strong horses had to stop and leave the bargees to power their craft through by leg and footpower alone and found our way through the useful and quiet network of cycle lanes here back to the canal further along. Soon we became aware that we were in the Kings Cross/St Pancras area because of the massive amount of building work alongside the canal. We headed up the steps leading to the new St Martins Fashion School.
