Thames Barrier in the rain

Today was a typically wet and grey winter’s day in London so a 50km ride up to the Thames Barrier perhaps wasn’t an obvious choice. The route I chose was mostly on LCN cycle routes so it wasn’t too difficult but did include a few hills and took in a few attractions on the way.

Dulwich Village and Peckham Rye Park were great to ride through but the rain was pouring down and neither looked too pleasant. Only a few dedicated joggers were out and it didn’t look like they were having fun. The weather did suit the gothic Nunhead Cemetery however. It opened in 1840 and is the second largest Victorian cemetery in London.

Blackheath was equally bleak but the weather was not deterring the kids playing football from having a good time. After 23km I made it to the Thames Barrier. It was low tide so lots of exposed mud on each bank and no river traffic at all.

The Thames Path around to the Millennium Dome was a very easy ride with wide cycle and pedestrian paths. Shortly after the Dome the cycle route heads away from the shoreline as the Thames Path gets quite rough and narrow. A few joggers were out but nobody else.

Once I got to Greenwich I’d had enough. The rain had stopped but my gloves and tights were soaked through and my hands were frozen. I went past where the Cutty Sark would normally be, set the Geko for home and kept to A and B roads that looked like they were heading in the right direction. After six years I still don’t really know London but I just kept the GPS’s arrow facing forward and I was home in no time and straight into a warm shower.