Back East Bimble

My Partner in Crime, BumbleBee and I had been planning our very own night photo ride for some time. Due to work commitments he was unable to attend the official Christmas Lights ride and this one was going to start just before midnight on 27/12/14. However as BumbleBee was going to working the next day it didn't seem right that he miss a nights sleep, so we arrange to meet at 07:00 Sunday morning at Trafalgar Square.

As soon as we met at the start location we headed off east. We reached St Paul's Cathedral and took a few pictures. I was busily watching Bumblebee as he is a pretty good photographer and always produces shots of interest.

St Paul's Cathedral just after dawn

The sun was making its way above the horizon and casted an amber glow over everything. It was very pretty and we had these view more or less to ourselves. A photographer with fairly meaty tripod in hand looked as if he had finished taking his pictures and was off home.

The view from the Millennium Bridge

I cannot count how many times I have stood on this bridge? It it also a location that Bumblebee and I have taken many a photograph.

The Christmas lights were still evident everywhere and even though it is over for another year, it was lovely to see them. On my solo Boxing Day ride I saw a fox walking along the Strand. This morning there was another walking bold as brass near the Globe Theatre. They seem to be everywhere!

Christmas not over yet

Stopping at the south side of the Thames to take photos of Tower Bridge Bumblebee strategically placed his Brompton where the small fountains of water were gushing forth so that he could take some photographs. He managed to do all this without a drop of water touching him or the bike.

Master photographer at work

Crossing Tower Bridge I looked up to see if I could see the new glass platform. I made a mental note to go there one day as seeing the cars go by below must be quite a sight!

Once on the north side of the Thames we took in a slightly different view of Tower Bridge. This is where things took a turn for the worse! It was a particularly cold morning with a mild frost. Stupidly I tried to head down towards a better view of the bridge on decking. The combination of thawing frost on decking and SPD shoes was enough to make me slip over.

I wasn't hurt but I had twisted my knee. I was able to continue as far as the O2 but was thankful that Bumblebee was happy to return to Embankment on the Thames Clipper as I suspect I would not have been able to cycle. As I write this my knee feels pretty ropey but I am sure that a few days of rest will do the trick.

As we cycled further along I spotted some Black Headed Gulls being quite obliging and almost posing for pictures.

Black Headed Gulls

They were obviously very used to people as they seem very nonchalant about me approaching.

Bumblebee and I were doing pretty well as far as the route was concerned and we managed to get where we wanted to go without resorting to Garmin devices or iPhones.

I wonder what his photo will turn out like?

Canary Wharf was literally deserted and security guards outnumbered everyone therein. Taking a few photos along the way we wasted little time in heading for the O2.

The heart of Canary Wharf

We got a good view of the Traffic Light Tree by the French sculpture, Pierre Vivant. I like this a great deal and still remember the first time I saw it and wondered how on earth we were going to know how to proceed?

Arriving at the Greenwich foot tunnel I decided to take the lift down and then up just in case the knew wasn't up to it.

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

On the outside again we were greeted by the familiar sight of the Cutty Sark. For once I decided to ensure that I took a photo with the entire ship in frame as I do not think I have managed this before for some reason?

At last a complete picture of the entire ship

With the O2 in sight we pressed on. A lone Cormorant was the third ornithological nicety seen on this ride. Along with the obliging Black Headed Gulls I also had my best view of a Kingfisher just after Wapping.

The O2

A lone Cormorant

When we reached the O2 we retired to the 'Slug and Lettuce' for their all day breakfast that was consumed with enthusiasm. That done we decided not to press further on and took the Thames Clipper. This journey didn't seem to take as long as previous ones as it was still quite early and there were a lot less people about.

Bumblebee was kind enough to give me one of the Brompton Christmas cards he made at Brompton Junction as few weeks ago and wrote about in his blog. I felt very special and will be framing it and putting it in my study as I think it looks pretty fine.

Handmade from my Partner in crime

Cycling anywhere with my Partner in crime Bumblebee is always fun. He was very kind to mention me in a recent blog post thanking me for encouraging him. I have to say that I would say the same of him. I always knew that owning a Brompton would be fun but I did not expect to develop so many friendships along the way. I don't know what Brompton adventures 2015 will bring but I am pretty certain many will feature my Partner in Crime and friend Bumblebee.

Map and ride data

Solo Boxing Day Ride

A few of the Brompton troops were meeting at 11:00 at Richmond for a little Boxing Day cycle but alas that was too late a start for yours truly as I was visiting family later that afternoon and would not have got back in suitable time. Undeterred, I decided to venture out for my own solo Boxing Day ride.

Things were pretty quiet with few people other than tourists taking photos, however the strangest thing I ever seen on the Strand near Charring Cross station was a lone fox trotting across the road and up towards St Martin-in-the-Fields.

My route was pretty simple really. I would travel from Trafalgar Square to some great views of Canary Wharf just past Wapping and then turn back. I was rather pleased with myself for navigating this far without getting lost. Of course I have cycled this route so many times over the years - the latest being the week before on the Winter Photo Ride - it has become reasonably familiar.

At St Paul's I stopped at the Millennium Bridge to take a few photos which proved challenging. The sky was a very bright white/grey which did nothing to enhance the sights on offer. I suspect black and white would have been the order of the day perhaps?

While composing the photograph below there was a family carrying suitcases taking in the views. It appeared to me that they might be catching a flight home later in the day. Their teenage son decided to run through the small fountains gushing from the floor, tripped over, fell and got himself totally wet. His parents reaction was pretty shocking, insofar as things became physical and the comical took on a rather dark slant. Walking back to my Brompton and passing them I commented that there was no need for that after which they left.

Cycling over Tower Bridge on a quiet Boxing Day morning was the best. I crossed the entire bridge without a single car, bus, motorbike or coach in sight. The only distraction were tourists hasty trying to take a photograph of someone on an Orange Brompton with a general orange theme going on!

Once on the other side of the river I took in the all too familiar views of Tower Bridge. To my left a lone Heron was considering whether to venture further into the river for breakfast. To my right the bridge itself.

Just before St Katherine Docks I spied the large sluice gates that allow water from the Thames into the docks. I wonder if they are ever used or now just an homage to the past?

Wapping with its bone shattering cobbled streets (that I actually really like) was next. A few dog walkers and joggers were the only people I saw. I stopped to take a photo of one of the mini cranes that would have been common in the past and used to load and unload goods into warehouses and factories all along the river. These factories are now of course riverside accommodation and the cranes are just for decoration.

A structureI have cycled past many times before was the steel bascule bridge. Having the time to stop I took a few photos. Bridges like this were quite common in this area in the past and allowed larger ships from the Thames into the many basins.

The bridge simply rolled up on the curve via a ballast tank on the bridge. It was a very simply but effective design.

I suspect this particular bridge is simply for show the days when it rose into the sky are long gone. Still, at least it is still there and not replaced by something less pleasing on the eye or in keeping with the areas industrial heritage.

I took a camera with a lens having a slightly longer reach. This allowed me to obtain closer view of Canary Wharf.

Time constraints meant that this was to be the furthest I could go but I plan to travel further east another day when I have more time.

The gentleman below mudlarking, arrived on his bicycle, locked it up to the railings and then proceeded to go onto the foreshore looking for any historical gems washed. The usual finds can be parts of clay pipes that were almost disposable items in the past. Those living and working near/on/by the river simply threw rubbish into its depths.

On my return I stopped outside the Prospect of Whitby to take a quick photo. This lays claim to being the oldest riverside tavern dating from 1520 and it may well be. The building looks Victorian to me but apparently the oldest part still remaining is the 400 year old stone floor.

In the past it was a meeting place for sailors, smugglers and everyone in between. Charles Dickens is said to have visited this pub and I can only imagine what it and this area must have been like in his time!

Heading back I took one last photo of Tower Bridge before heading towards the City. Even then things were pretty tame as far as the traffic was concerned which I appreciated.

As I passed St Paul's Cathedral I glanced over towards the area of the Millennium Bridge to see literally hundreds of people walking towards it. Glad that I had visited it first on my journey I pressed on.

The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace was closed to traffic and I suspect this meant the changing of the guard. I haven't officially been to see this in ages but have got caught up in it unintentionally a few times. Well worth a visit and if you want a top tip, don't stand too near to Buckingham Palace. You will be able to get a much better view further down The Mall.

This was a good little run out and I managed getting on for almost 30 miles in total. I haven't done a solo ride like this for what seems like ages. It reminded me of the sort of thing I got up to when I first bought my Brompton. Back then I didn't know many other Bromptonians and it made me consider how things have changed.

Map and ride data