Sunny with a high of 33°C (91.4°F)
Another day and another adventure.
The annual summer fête, at Croxley Business Park, was our first stop, today. Erin and Keilyn had both been before, but Emma, myself and Steve had never visited, so that had to be rectified. Erin, although up and ready for another adventure, was feeling a little under the weather from yesterday's epic walk and decided that she would go to Croxbury, as it had been named this year, but would not go to London after.
We left home and made the short walk towards Croxley Business Park, stopping at Greggs to buy some lunch which was eaten on the benches outside the store. As the girls tucked into their food Keilyn spotted Steve crossing the road and yelled out his name. Steve, ever the entertainer, covered his face and turned away at a pace, disappearing out of sight, but reappeared moments later. Keilyn's face went through a mixture of emotions in those few seconds. Steve purchased some food and before long we were heading towards the sports field, adjacent to Croxley Common Moor.
The drive was lined with flags and banners, with us being greeted at the entrance by four ladies on stilts, wearing rainbow-coloured wigs. Once on the sports field we headed for the shade of a tent and purchased some raffle tickets, while Keilyn bought some candy floss. We then had a wander around the field, where a stage had been set up with a band doing Oasis covers among others. A bouncy castle and bouncy slide along with face-painting stalls and a man making balloon shapes entertained the little ones.
There were two fun fair rides set up along the other side. A Ferris wheel and another ride for older kids. It was about this time that Steve announced that he had never been on a Ferris wheel. This needed correcting. So, Keilyn and I joined the queue, with Steve and Erin behind us. Soon we were clambering aboard and once secured into our seats waited for everyone else to take their seats. As each seat filled our seat moved higher, until all of the seats were full. Then the ride began.
For a good few minutes we took in the sights and sounds offered by the ride. The massive expanse of Croxley Moor, to our right, and the business park to our left. When the ride finished we found ourselves at the top and so I was able to turn in my seat and take a photo of Erin and Steve, who were behind us, with Croxley spread out behind them.
On exiting the ride we found Emma, who had been watching us from a bench, and made a move towards the exit. After saying our "Goodbyes", Emma and Erin made their way back through the business park, while Steve, Keilyn and I went through a gate onto Croxley Moor. It turns out that Steve had never walked across the moor! We made our way along the dusty tracks, passing bushes and trees, while rabbits darted in and out of cover, until we reached the River Gade. Here we stopped to take in the view along the river, with small fish swimming just below the surface of the crystal clear water.
From here we crossed the Grand Union Canal and made our way up Mill Lane to Watford Road, where we purchased some refreshments, from Croxley Supermarket, for the onward journey. Then it was across the road and into Croxley station, where we waited for a train to Baker Street. Minutes later we were on our way, zipping by the southern end of Croxley Moor and into Moor Park. As we approached Northwood station the driver came over the intercom to inform us that we would not be stopping at Northwick Park, Preston Road or Wembley Park due to track-side fire. This also meant that there would be no Jubilee line trains for the foreseeable future. A little further on and we were informed that we would stop at Wembley Park, as the fire was now under control, with us spotting the fire just south of Wembley Park station.
The rest of the journey was and we were soon exiting Baker Street station onto Marylebone Road. A quick discussion was undertaken as to where we should eat, before Keilyn decided that 'The Met Bar' would be a good choice. So, we went in and easily found an empty table. Within minutes food and drinks had been ordered. A short time after our drinks arrived our food was brought to the table. Jacket potato with beans and cheese, for Keilyn, while Steve opted for the scampi and chips and I had sausages, mash and peas. With dinner finished and drinks downed Keilyn's attention turned to dessert. She perused the menu and pondered over the warm chocolate brownie with ice cream, stating that "no one does ice cream better than Wetherspoons!" Challenge accepted.
We left the bar and headed towards Baker Street, with Keilyn slightly ahead of us looking for ice cream. The first shop she found she was not impressed with, but she kept moving. By now I could see the 'B R' sign ahead of us, but Keilyn hadn't worked it out. Across the road a few people were standing beside the postbox that was once home to Danger Mouse, while a little further on a large group of tourists were waiting to visit the home and museum of Sherlock Holmes. This was when Keilyn discovered what 'B R' meant... 'Baskin Robbins'. Well, once she had picked two completely polarising flavours, as had Steve and I, her attitude changed to who makes the best ice cream. Turns out that Steve had never had Baskin Robbins before. Unbelievable.
With our ice creams in hand we made our way along Baker Street, crossed Alsop Place, back onto Baker Street and across the Outer Circle and entered The Regent's Park. We finished our ice cream, disposing of the tubs in a bin, and crossed the booting lake and headed towards York Bridge. We skirted the tennis and padel courts, before joining the Inner Circle and entered the Japanese Garden. This is one of my favourite places in the whole of The Regent's Park, with its waterfall, statues and various hidden spots to sit and relax.
From here we continued on to Queen Mary's Rose Garden, with its varied selection of roses in a myriad of colours. Keilyn had opened the 'Seek' app on her phone, when we entered the park, and was busy finding out the names of trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants, while Steve and myself were enjoying the leisurely stroll.
On leaving the rose garden we rejoined the Inner Circle and entered The Regent's Park proper. Heron, coots, geese, moorhen, swans, and many more were all enjoying the lakes as we crossed the bridge towards the football pitches. A few small groups of people were playing rounders, while others were simply enjoying this exceptional heatwave.
We meandered through the park until we found ourselves by the North Gate above the Regent's Canal, where Steve,, Erin and I had begun our walk yesterday. Onto Prince Albert Road we continued, before heading up Avenue Road. To our left, on Allitsen Road, we spotted a pub, The New Inn, so we stopped for some refreshments, taking advantage of a table and chairs in the shade outside of the pub.
Suitably refreshed we continued along Allitsen Road until we reached Whisson News and Food, where we purchased more drinks and snacks. We then headed back along Allitsen Road, crossed Avenue Road and continued along St Edmund's Terrace until we reached Primrose Hill.
On entering Primrose Hill, we immediately set about finding Shakespeare's Oak, which wasn't difficult despite it having no plaques or signage, before we began our ascent of the hill. Compared to the grassy flat area at the bottom of the hill, which was quite empty, the banks and top of the hill were a sea of bodies, all there to witness the eclipse. We paused every few metres to take in the London skyline, before settling on a place about two thirds of the way to the viewing point. Around us people were playing music, eating food and genuinely enjoying the atmosphere.
As time crept on more and more people arrived, and realising that the entire hill was occupied, took to staying at its base on the grassy fields. By the time the eclipse began you couldn't see a single blade of grass, such was the density of people at Primrose Hill.
Although we didn't have 'eclipse glasses' many people were offering their own to those without, so that they could see what was happening. Keilyn and I, with the help of Steve, made a pinhole in a piece of card which we could focus the eclipse through onto another piece of card. This worked quite well, with the circle gradually changing as the moon transitioned across the sun.
A massive cheer went up as the roughly 78% coverage reached its peak, with the light dimming noticeably and the temperature dropping by a few degrees.
All to briefly the sun reasserted its dominance and people began to head down the hill. We hung back for a few minutes to watch as some of the city lights began to switch on, changing the skyline again. Suitably relaxed, and with many people having left the area, we headed down the hill towards St Edmund's Terrace, ready to begin our journey home.
We crossed Avenue Road and headed along Allitsen Road, before turning up St John's Wood High Street. We stopped at the Duke of York, so that the facilities could be used, before continuing along St Ann's Terrace onto Acacia Road, where we stopped for a final drink at The Ordnance Arms. Once again we sat at a table in the garden, making the most of the last of the evening light.
On leaving The Ordnance Arms we headed back along Acacia Road, along St Ann's Terrace and onto Circus Road, where Keilyn, ever hungry, asked if we could get some more snacks. Of course we could, so we stopped at Tesco Express. Twenty mini pork sausage rolls and a bag of marshmallows was what she bought. From here we joined Wellington Road and headed to St John's Wood station, passing a fox who was happily resting beneath a tree along this busy thoroughfare.
We passed through the ticket barriers and descended to the north-bound platform, where we didn't have to wait long for a train to arrive. It was standing room only, but we only had two stops to get us to Finchley Road, from where we would catch a Metropolitan line train to Watford.
Keilyn happily shared her sausage rolls with Steve and I, but we never got a look in with the marshmallows, which seemed to just disappear in seconds.
Arriving at Watford we bid each other farewell as Steve headed off in one direction, while Keilyn and I headed in the other direction. All in all it was yet another great day out with great company.
Distance travelled:
- Bus - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Cable Car - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Car - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- DLR - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Ferry - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Overground - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- River Boat - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Taxi - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Train - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Tram - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Underground - 32.9 miles (52.94 kms)
- Walking - 7.8 miles (12.55 kms)
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