A very fine if fresh day brought out the crowds. But away from the tourist areas it was just another quiet Sunday.
Nine at the Pheasantry became six as we headed across the lock to Richmond Park via the closed (and toadless) Church Road. We exited at Sheen Gate to glimpse a flying parrot(!), Palewell Park and Old Mortlake cemetery. Barnes became Hammersmith where we passed under the A4 to Ravenscourt Park. After workaday Acton came the green fields of Wormwood Scrubs, the Linford Christie Stadium (not forgetting the more famous prison and hospitals).
We finally reached the Grand Union Canal just after crossing Ladbrooke Grove. From here the crowds began to increase until a just passable Paddington Basin. Here two thirds lunched alfresco; two didn't.
The return is simply stated: Hyde Park to its southern edge where Dave, Ed and Lillian turned left for mainline stations and the other half turned right past the Albert Memorial and Kensington museums. Then came Stanhope Gardens, Brompton Cemetery (Emmeline Pankhurst), Chelsea FC and Eelbrook Common. After being trapped at both rail crossings, Keith departed at the start of Priory Road leaving just two to split on Kingston Bridge,
35 miles door to door.
Omitting the mistakes all that's left of a wintertime ride along the canals of West London
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