Week thirty-five

I remember a time when I once used to cycle down my street in Newcastle at a relaxed pace with my hands nowhere near the handle bars but hanging nonchalantly by my sides.  This was about 15 years ago and is a distant memory that I can only cling to since these days I can barely cycle in a straight line.
Before May this year I hadn't even ridden a bike since those long-gone carefree and untroubled days, but something had been gnawing at me for ages and so rather than just constantly talking about how I'd like to buy a bike, I actually bought a bike.

Under no illusions whatsoever, my intentions were purely simple and childlike, wanting nothing more than to pootle around the neighbourhood.  I was far too scared to even think about cycling around London or heaven forbid cycling to work from West to East.  London buses make me very nervous when I'm in my car, nevermind exposed to the outside  perils on a bike.  No no, all I wanted was to pretend I was one of these trendy Queens Park types that cycles down Salusbury Road on a Sunday, buys a coffee from Gails and does their shopping at the Farmers Market.

I hasten to add that it did start that way but after some useful advice from friends, my confidence soon grew and within a few weeks I had cycled on some scary roads and realised that as a hobby, rather than a necessary means of transport, cycling is amazing.  Somehow I've managed to regain those careless moments because there is nothing quite like cycling with the wind in your face taking in everything and everyone around you.

Feeling the love I now wanted to venture along the most cherished cycle route in London - Regent's Canal.  And last week I did it and oh how glad I am because I saw how utterly wonderful and beautiful London is in a way I never knew.

On bank holiday Monday my friend and fellow Geordie Kate and I set off from Little Venice and headed East.  Passing along the houseboats on the way to Regents Park is just so quaint - people have made their homes with such care and attention and even out by the cold waters have created such a warm and homely environment.

As we meandered through Regents Park I gazed longingly at some of the impending but quite stunning houses overhanging the canal side.  All along there is just so picturesque with all the weeping willows and I feel like its either a rare view in London or its just something I fail to normally see when rushing around with fervent intent.

Something else I definitely don't see is how pretty Camden is.  Generally its not a place I really like to be since its normally just manic and filled with oblivious tourists but as we crossed the east side of the market I stood for a moment and realised how nice it is.....when not surrounded by the human cattle.

No sooner had we stopped lingering that we found ourselves going through Kings Cross and Caledonian Road where we had to come off the canal again and cycle towards Angel.  This part was familiar to me as I used to work on Wharf Road so would walk along the canal from the tube but I felt so much more smug this time being one of the cyclists and being able to ring my bell to make the helpless walkers stand aside for me.  

Before we got onto the roads again we passed this struggling canoeist who just seemed to be completely static, bobbing up and down in the green funk and although I felt bad I could not stop laughing.

Back on the canal we sauntered through Shoreditch and Haggerston and then arrived at Broadway Market.  It was a shame we didn't come on a Saturday as I'd never been here before and hear very good things about it.  I could tell just from the street that its lovely and the market would definitely be cooler than Queens Park.  Clearly.  We made a slight detour to go through lovely London Fields and have a peek into the Lido and then got back onto the canal.

Getting rather peckish by this point Kate and I decided to have a final whirl through beautiful Victoria Park before settling down to some well deserved pizza and wine.

I honestly couldn't be happier that I bought my bike this year and if I got no other use from it I'd be perfectly content as cycling the canal in London is truly one of the best things to do in this city.  Before it gets any more dark and miserable I advise you all to do it immediately, and the great thing is, if you don't have a bike, just grab a Boris!

Next week I've apparently roped myself into going to a pub sing-a-long in Marylebone. Fingers in ears please.