The four who did this legendary ride for the first time last year agreed then to repeat it. The 2001 version was flogged round the Greenwich list but not elsewhere. Yesterday's went elsewhere too, and almost as a PS on the email sent to Time Out about the ceilidh. And of course TO didn't mention that wonderful evening but put yesterday in the Around Town section....with only the famous foto-op Serpentine swim in for company that day. Sink or swim. It felt great to appear in TO, they never mention bike rides just paying walks, but I've now had one of my naughty TO prejudices half-confirmed. I got maybe 20 phone calls from TO readers about the ride. Most were very simple and understandable queries.....is it free, where are the loos? what's the catch, what time do we get back...but the rest were high-maintenance...why can't you lend me a bike, why are no rental places open 25/12 I know 5 in New York, why can't you come to Westbourne Grove and pick me up, why not start at 1pm.....and only one TO person turned up. (ed: And he was great).
Enough......a smiley 30 of us met at CSG at 10am and about 10 others kept calling to meet us en route. Wow. About 12 new faces in warmish sunny weather. Good mix, some staying all day, some cutting off for family lunch. First stop was Tanners Hill, Deptford via the Waterlink Way and the Halfpenny Hatch Bridge. And there was Ian at home with broken leg, and sherry, and enough mince pies for all. We packed his flat, drank amontillado, used his loo, went. Great to see him. I hope the love of the invasion beat the emptiness of the withdrawal. Gulp.
Then the good old Thames path....hugely low tide and all looked fine in the sun. No one around. Even the Rotherhithe Hilton was closed as we limboed under the barrier.
We picked up a couple of people at City Hall, and crossed Westminster Bridge. Loads of tourists about and poor Churchill boarded up too early for New Years Eve. As was Eros later. Parliament Square, St Martins Lane...and the Bear&Staff opposite closed but fine Gabbies (cheapest/best fallafel in central London). The pub had just opened at 12 (and was doing food. Don't). We stayed about an hour 20. Several others joined us, one slightly cross non-drinker left (and I felt really bad about that but democracy said we weren't ready to go). And then I realised that me, Roger, Doug and Adrian were there again. Neat. We survived the year. Then Trafalgar Square again (closed off completely on New Year's Eve, and no fireworks? Hmm), The Mall, the good bike lane through Green Park parallel to Constitution Hill, under Admiraly Arch at HPC (I know, I know...it's quicker to ride round in the traffic but the new crossings are impressive and I like them), south along the Serpentine, over the bridge, then north along it and up to Marble Arch, and Edgware Road. About 24 of us now. A couple of adjacent Lebanese places fitted us all in without too much pause and, I think, we all ate well....even the vegan. And I liked that. (Oh. I had an aubergine starter, then grilled flat chicken on savoury rice (with pitta, olives and green chillies on the side), then baclava-type honey-pastry sweets...£20). And sat with the other 3. Aah.
And after the good lunch we were 14 or so. Oxford Street, the City, Tower Bridge, and back to Roger's in south Lewisham....and beers, and some, they say, stayed very late.
We had a good day.
Some will do Critical Mass tomorrow, Friday, 6pm, South Bank.
Saturday? 10am CSG...the Locks, again. Doh. But it's fun, and will have changed.
It's 2003 soon. What do you want to do? Please tell.
Barry
07905 889 005
and last year the ride started at 11am so as to allow prior time at the Southwark Cathedral 9am. I forgot that, and missed the still time.
treat: Fullers (London Pride etc fame) get Gregs (local bakers) to make their Christmas puddings for them...using their beer and brandy....limited edition stuff for clients etc. I had some today. Yum.
what did the fish who swam into a wall say?
Dam.
how many ears does captain kirk have?
Three. A left ear. A right ear. A final front ear.