The BIG REVEAL —- Christine has busted open the wallet and bought a custom built Condor Touring Bike (arranged from back in Australia, picked up from the maker in Greys Inn Road yesterday).
A day later C&J headed back to Condor to get the bike tuned in, culture vulture Jane walked off across Hyde Park to her appointed time at the Natural History Museum.
I headed into Camden looking for architecturally significant modern grouped council housing (Sydney Cook’s Alexandra Road estate from the 60s and 70s).Didn’t find those but did see some others. Didn’t find a bike shop with the strap I wanted (just as well as I found it in my pannier next day) but did find the evolving Phillapino area in Kentish Town. Very nice pistachio stuffed sweet bread with a cafe Americano. Several charity shops in Kentish Town so dropped in and got a shirt (tailor made in Connaught Circus in New Dehli where every western tourist on their first trip goes and think they have left civilisation for good, until they go to Old Delhi railway station. I thought this on my first trip in 1978 and Robyn thought it o hers in 1995). Couldn’t find a suitable backpack (everyone carries 20 litre one which are too small for what I want) so got a Cat brand courier’s satchel.Good for documents but not so good for clothes, food etc.
Wandered around Bayswater still looking for a bike shop but after 5 km walking through the university of London and past the School of Tropical Medicine and RADA found a couple more shops but no part.
So wandered back through Soho to Neal’s Yard behind The Seven Dials off Shaftsbury Avenue. Moved upmarket since the hand thrown pottery and craft bread days of the late ’70s. Now a collection of wine bars. They were out of my comfort range so ambled through the Seven Dials food space to The Green King on St Martin’s Lane for a porter.
Then back to Charing Cross for the peak hour tube for the Piccadilly line to Paddington a block away from our hotel.
J&C eventually returned and a muffled groan from a bed revealed Jane completely buried under the cover having a sleep. I had no idea she was there.
LEJOG Day -1 Part b. Jane stayed in bed while C,J&I headed out for dinner. The hole in the wall Cafe didn’t have much. The friendly, insistent owner though insisted that we give the Iranian restaurant over the road a go. Turns out it was probably his brother’s restaurant and it was good. C&J had fancy mint tea from a fancy Iranian tea set (She may share the photo). And so to bed.
