December 2 2018 A Day To Forget

It's nearly four years since our last expedition to the East, a land largely built by Joseph Bazalgette - Chelsea and Victoria Embankments, the Northern Sewage Outfall and his "Cathedral of Sewage", Abbey Mills pumping station. This is also a gruesome tale of Primo, Secondus, Tertius and Quartus aka the Four P's.

Sunday was warm for December but almost rainless (heavy before and after but scarce during the ride). There were four at the start (G, Dave, Ed, Lillian). Primo (Ed) showed up after only two miles close to ex HMP Ham House (an ongoing addition to Berkeley’s empire).  We split with Dave volunteering to take the bad news to anyone (Pam and Tony) waiting at Barnes station where four became six.

The next unscheduled stop was the briefest of visits to The Rocket behind Putney Church. Then came Hurlingham and Chelsea Harbour where early West London derby fans were disgorging from Imperial Wharf station. There was nothing to record of our ride between Battersea and Waterloo Bridges save the absence of Terry but in truth I confused the undersides of Waterloo and Charing Cross Bridges! So now we were seven.

Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the Liberty Bounds, packed but service was still prompt. As we left Secondus (Pam slow) turned up.  Between St Katharine's Dock and the London Stadium was watery and as predicted nobody rode the cobbles at either Bow Lock or Three Mills Studios. Old Ford was a first chance to shorten the ride. We turned east onto the Greenway but to no avail as we met Tertius (Tony) as we descended to Marshgate Lane. This was one stop too many for Dave who headed home. We paused beside Abbey Mills pumping station before continuing on to Plaistow and Canning Town where Quartus (Tony again) put in a belated appearance.

It should be no surprise that lunch was taken after two at Fat Boy's Diner nestling between London’s only lighthouse until 1988 and Container City. Refreshed we headed through the Isle of Dogs where locals were showing off their latest balaclava/scooter collections. In Island Gardens is the Greenwich Foot Tunnel entrance; we walked. What happened next is unclear. Only Lillian and I reached Waterloo station by the intended route (Quietway 1, well worth checking out). Perchance we found Ed on the main concourse looking for a train. Just not my day? And sometime this week there will be a cleaning session.

35 miles.