Mike and Wendy's holiday blog

Sunday 14 June

We had our own personal bus service when some of the roads were closed so the bus took us past the cricket club and straight into Bury.

Then we were able to hop straight onto the tram and were in Manchester Piccadilly by 10am - which was just as well as I'd had a notification to say that our second train from Crewe had been cancelled.

After a quick consultation at the information office we were able to catch an earlier train to Crewe. Once there we hopped off one train and straight across the platform onto another so we actually arrived in London two hours early despite our cancelled train!

Found our little bedsit, unpacked the bags then set off for a walk.

Went down Tottenham Court Road towards the Thames and met loads of pearly kings and queens on Waterloo bridge - zigzagging across 10 bridges on a charity walk.

We had a little stop by the river for an elderflower gin cocktail. Very nice!

We walked back over Westminster bridge.

Then back past Downing Street, Trafalgar Square..

.. and Horse Guards Parade..

.. and through Chinatown.

Over 6 miles.

We had an Indian meal at a restaurant literally just yards away from our digs and managed to stagger back before our legs gave out completely.

A really good day. And lovely weather!

Monday 15 June

I went for an early(ish) walk to Regents Park about 10 minutes away from our accommodation.

Lots of people out and about but not one smiled or said good morning - funny lot these southerners. 🙄

Still a nice walk though - very well kept park with loads of fountains.

Then a walk up to Camden with Mike.

A wander round the locks and markets.

Ate loads of tasters at the stalls - so many that we didn't feel hungry enough for a meal!. 🤣

We stopped for a drink - and the man offered us a slice of plum and blackberry pie with ice cream - on the house! - so all we paid was £6 something for an early grey and a breakfast tea.

So that was very cheap eats in Camden!

Part of the music icons walkway on the Camden streets

This punk was sitting on a walk - with a baby sparrow quite happily perched on his shoulder!

Both of them very happy.. 😁

Onto the tube to get to the Tate Modern to look at the skyscape from their viewing platform.

Unfortunately (or probably for me . fortunately!) the terrace was closed so we could only look at it from inside.

Not enough time to look round the museum but I hope to be back soon for the Frieda Kahlo exhibition.

Back on the tube to head to another rooftop view at Garden at 120. The view from Southwark bridge.

The monument to the Great Fire of London built on the site at Pudding Lane.

Lovely views of the Gherkin.

We had to go through a scanner to get in here and travel to the 15th floor.

A beautifully kept garden on the roof - the jasmine smelled amazing.

So much construction work going on all over.

The views were fabulous though between all the cranes.

Back on the tube and a lovely 'picky' meal courtesy of Sainsbury's.. 😋

Another grand day out. I walked over 10 miles and Mike did nearly 7! So another early night.. 🥱💤

Tuesday 16 June

An early walk back into Regent's Park round the rose gardens and the Japanese garden.

More statues.

Absolutely loads of cyclists shooting by in large packs on the roads round the perimeters.

We were then out by 8.30am to give ourselves plenty of time to get to Crossness. So we were caught up in rush hour on the tube.. 🙄

Arrived at Abbey Wood at 9.30am and set off to walk the two or so miles to the pumping station. A nice walk through the marshlands in the sunshine.

Beautiful scenery - though we were told later that the horses belonged to gypsies who had settled there - the locals didn't seem to be too pleased about it.

On to the tour - we learned a lot about poop.. 🤣💩

Stunning main hall mid restoration.

Stark contrast between the restored and unrestored bits.

A volunteer was preparing an area for paint.

Everyone went up the stairs to the upper floor - I tried but only got to the first level before I had to come down. A sort of open weave iron floor up there - no way I could walk on that!

By the time the tour finished the sun was blazing and it was really hot. So a slow walk back to the station and eventually back to our digs.

The aptly named Excrement Express which ran between the entrance and the start of the tour.

It was enough of a day out! Mike walked over 6 miles and I did more with my morning walk - over 9 miles total.. again lol. No wonder we were tired! But a good day and another tick off my bucket list.. ✔️👍

Wednesday 17 June

Short walk - grey skies.

Slight drizzle as we made our way to the Sky Garden.

We made our breakfast choices and looked out at the view - we could see the Crystal Palace mast in the distance it looked like the Eiffel Tower!

Great views across the Thames.

Nice breakfast. The view started to disappear as the mist rolled in.

Then we found out that the Sky Garden was closed due to maintenance so no chance to have a wander there.

But we were able to go out onto a little balcony at the side of the restaurant.

As we made our way back to the lift the top of the Shard was still mist covered.

We decided to continue with our planned walk anyway even though it still looked very grey.

St Dunstan in the East church garden - the church was bombed in the war. The sun started to come out.

Walk to Tower of London.

The Shard in sunshine.

Tower bridge.

Walk along the Embankment with views back to where we'd been.

The Golden Hinde.

That was enough of a walk so we took the Tube back to Euston for a little recharge - of ourselves and our batteries!

Back out again to One New Change for a close up view of St Paul's. Couldn't get into the bar for a drink so we didn't stay long.

Walk over Blackfriars bridge onto the Embankment again.

The Banksy graffiti tunnels under Waterloo station.

Originally set up by Banksy in 2008 as the Cans Festival.

It gives graffiti artists a place where they can legally work - everyone is welcome.

But all the work is transient and can be painted over at any time.

Great to see some of the artists at work.

One of them told me he was a computer programmer who had been out of work for two months so he came down here to relax and express himself through his art.