One of the very best rides ever. Fascinating tales of London and Charles Dickins, a distant ancestor of mine believe it or not. (Alas none of his money came to my side of the family.)
A pleasant social ride with much chatting and laughing, which the Ride Leader was probably not aware of as I was at the back with the bad boys. Regent Park was lovely in the silence and the darkness, but unlike that section just before the Cabin it didn't go on and on for ever. No sound of lions roaring as we passed the zoo, alas.
The impromptu Burger king stop was amusing and I thought I looked ridiculous in my red santa suit with Santa hat cable tied to the helmet - until I saw what others were wearing in there. The black tie crowd were very funny and the lady who thought she was too warm removed her jacket and jumper and put back on the jacket. Strange bra she had but each to their own taste.
The Parliament Hill section was brilliant and tremendously atmospheric with wonderful views. The lights through the mist were very pretty.
St Pancras was a great idea: indoors, loos and good coffee.
The best bit was the final section. As you know, I'm a bit of Country Bumpkin and have never seen the Christmas lights of London. They're fantastic. Never been to Soho before. Or Carnaby Street.
At the end i peeled off to catch my train and the conductor actually checked my ticket, railcard and the fact that I was on the correct train for the timed ticket, he said they're checking this every time now, useful to know.
Another lesson was my interaction with a couple of youfs on a knackered moped who did a moped bag snatch on a young lady. Their getaway was delayed by a rubbish lorry blocking the traffic so I almost caught them up and when they stopped to pick up something they'd dropped I nearly caught up the one on foot and rammed him with the bike. It's a Thorn Raven and weighs 18k and had a fat old bloke on it at the time so would have delayed him, alas I was separated from him by a pavement kerb. They dashed off and I followed them for a few streets but they lost me so I called the Old Bill. The lesson is to not carry anything of value, esp phones, in the bag over your shoulder. It seems there are very many suspects near Highbury who do this sort of thing. The moped had a black plastic bin liner taped over the rear number plate. How long I'd have remained unstabbed as I attempted a citizen's arrest is a moot point but I didn't think of that at the time.
This happened as I was on the way to the meeting of the ride leaders, about which you should hear something in the next few weeks. Dates and destinations have been decided.
