LONDON

By

Day 21. Wednesday, August 6.

6.95 Miles. 16,785 Steps.

Duke’s Head, Richmond to Georgian House, London.

There was a top sheet on the bed for the first time. Didn’t know how to deal with it. Tangled all night.

Richmond train station. Tried to buy ticket to London using cash and station worker wanted me to use a card. She said it would save me a couple pounds. Tried to explain that by using a card I wouldn’t save a couple pounds but would be charged a lot more for the foreign transaction fee. The card is used for larger purchases than 5 pounds. Lady kept mumbling.

District line direct to Victoria. Loved reading the diagram for the routes and locating which had been used often in the past. Crowded train. Had to sit on seat with pack behind back and hang on when train lurched or did corners.

Right next door the Georgian House.

Adventure to depart Victoria train station. Needed to use ‘lift’/elevator to get up to ground level. Started off at -2. Had to go down to -3, then up to street.

Then needed directions to get of station. It was large and I didn’t want to go opposite direction.

Floor tiles in hotel were disturbing I found.

Southbank has changed greatly.

Found Georgian Hotel and was able to leave large backpack until check in later in day. They even said it would be waiting in my room on 3rd floor, and it was.

Set off to fine Tate Britain - the original museum. Wasn’t sure how the knees would do, but getting there was fine.

Made a point of finding the shrapnel/bomb/bullet holes on the west side of the building. I remember being a student here and our teacher talking about those visible remains of WWII, and how it had been decided not to remove them, but leave as a reminder of what London endured during the war.

Wounds of war.

Barbara Hepworth

JMW Turner

Bridget Riley

Henry Moore

Lady of Shalott, John William Waterhouse. 1888

The Memorial Wall stretched across the entire south bank between Lambeth Bridge and Westminster Bridge. Impressive.

Westminister Abbey

Westminister Cathedral

Hamilton !!!

For the last couple days the brain has been trying to remember the name of the student who met our group in Berlin. She had been traveling in Russia with her family before coming west to join the Semester Abroad program to Poland. What was so impressive about her traveling alone, so confidently, was how she carried a little notebook and pen in the pouch at her waist and took careful notes of directions given. On this journey I too carry pen and paper with notes and directions. Thank you - BROOKE for the guidance!

Wicked !!!

Tonight’s pillow is on the 3rd floor in a Very Narrow room. Used a trekking pole for demonstration. Tiny but everything necessary is included, almost within arms reach 😁

So far this has been a good mental day. Also feel like crying, and not from discouragement over the knees not behaving, but the joy returning to London brings. It feels like home and so familiar. Makes me HAPPY.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Mistake - of Many?

By
Yesterday as I was making calendars showing each nights location to leave at home for Gary I suddenly realized I was off a day. A day as in arriving a day too early. Couldn’t figure out how that happened, but things just happen, and with a bit of time the problem was resolved. As the train ticket was already purchased as far as Morton-in-Marsh, I realized I could just look in that location for a hotel for the extra night. Turned out there was one at a little tiny village about halfway between there and the next destination. The plan is if I feel like it, I will walk to the hotel about 4/5 miles from the train. The next morning I will then proceed to walk the 3/4 miles to Chipping Campden. If nothing else, it will give me an extra long block of time to get over the jet lag and give the legs a trial walk in preparation for the real walking. On another note, I realized the pack cover used for the backpack during the plane ride which doesn’t need to be used during the three weeks of w...
Read more

Long Travel Day

By
Image
Day minus 00 Before the Main Event Tuesday, July 15 Chicago to Blockley, Morton-In-Marsh 24 Hours straight traveling. Knee voiced its own opinion of being inactive. British Airways flight delayed a number of times. Flight was completely full with many families, many tiny babies, many tiny humans crying and mothers saying “shush”. Watched ‘Wicked’ between trying to nap. Arrive at Heathrow. Immigration and Customs went quickly. Collected bag and began to disassemble the packed towels and shift stuff around to be carried. It appeared that one section of a trekking pole was absent, and I worried the pack had opened and it was lost in transit. Annoyed! Caught the Heathrow Express train directly to London Paddington only to be told it was incorrect, I needed to be on the Elizabeth Line so was sent back to Heathrow. 50 minutes wasted. Located correct platform to wait at. There an elderly well dressed gentleman with 2 pieces of luggage was also waiting for the train to Reading, along with me w...
Read more

Rest Day in Painswick

By
Image
Day 3 Hiking. Saturday, July 19. Steps 11,682 Tibbiwell Lodge, Painswick. “It’s your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” Rumi I want to walk this road!! Decision was made yesterday that even though it is early on, I must rest in hopes of completing as much as possible of the journey. No trail hiking physically and mentally as I am finding all aspects more challenging than expected. Also due to all the various physical issues of the past few months I had not done the preparation/training that typically should have happened. Never got the mileage above 6 miles in the past 8 months, or carried the backpack more than a few times with only about 10 pounds. Now to do 12-16 mile days with serious Hills is difficult and what seems to me, a heavy pack. And, sadly have to admit I am not a Spring Chicken anymore. Still this will be attempted, as much as possible. Along with the naughty knee, and now loss of brace, hurt the left foot on the first day...
Read more