Star Log 106. 12.5 miles, top speed 17.9, ave speed 6.8 in 1hr 54 on the Brommie (I
think traffic lights and having to do a bit of walking lowered my average
speed!)
The
novelty of cycling in sunshine never wears off! Two days running the sky had
blue bits and the temperature in double figures! Wowser! Is this still London?!
Cycling
along The Mall it seems the preparations for Margaret Thatcher's funeral are
keeping many people busy. Railings are
going up along the pavement, lamp posts are being crowned, the TV outside broadcast
trucks are parked up and ready.
As
I went past Australia House on the Aldwych I swerved to avoid a road sign that
was lying in the middle of the road. It was being crumpled by buses but would
definitely take a road bike out if hit.
It was unsafe to stop so I found a policeman and asked him to help.
On
to Fleet Street. I love Fleet Street. It is narrow, the buildings are
higgledypiggledy and the road is sweeping as it drops down then up to Ludgate
Circus. With the magnificent St Pauls
Cathedral as a backdrop. Gets me every
time. It was a bit full of extra traffic
and a lot of police.
I
rode past St Pauls, stopped to wonder at its serenity, history and iconic
effect on London's skyline. Sir Christopher
Wren drew a legacy that in turn made me draw breath in awe.
Up
to London Wall and along to the Barbican where the architecture is a whole
different ball game. Tall, skinny and
concreted.
Hard, cold lines glaring down. I did find a bit of a route that would have been a great helter-skelter.
On
to Liverpool Street Station - suits everywhere! Only me and a delivery guy
wearing jeans! Cycling past vistas not
seen before, buildings old and new, spaces where demolitions have been
completed and the sous-terrain pillars are being whacked into the ground. I am
sure I saw a concrete lift shaft in the mix.
Down
to London Bridge for a coffee and then home.
