Walk: Filthy River

On Saturday morning, I was back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This walk was called Filthy River.. and I'm now paying him by bank transfer, at his suggestion - much handier than having to find change all the time.

Just arrived in time. It was a day that couldn't decide whether to be sunny, so I had fun all day deciding whether to have my sunglasses on or off, now that I have them. Also met someone else off to the Hideout social that evening, and had great fun regaling her with the story of Friday's shenanigans..

Well, we started off looking at the buildings surrounding us, on the concourse in front of King's Cross. One is known as The Lighthouse:


The station itself used to be the site of a smallpox hospital:


And the Great Northern Hotel is curved, following the path of the Fleet - the very river we were concerned with!


We followed the course through backstreets - and it is amazing how often I passed these places without giving them a second glance:


Turns out there were a lot of spas in the area:


Farringdon Station was the first opened in London, and the Metropolitan Line was the first of London's underground railway lines!


There's a fascinating drawing of the construction work over the Fleet on Snow Hill:


We finished at the site of the Bridewell. Crikey, I remembered the prison, but had actually forgotten it was a palace:


And so to lunch in the Punch Tavern, where the fish and chips has never tasted better. Good conversation too, which was carried on to the Blackfriar.


Plenty of time then to head for another Hideout social at Clubhouse 5. Where it was great to see people - including the lady who'd been on the walk, and had been to the Proms in the meantime - but with a dramatic rain shower just as I got there, I was drenched! Well, I dried off in the pub - and she inspired me to see what else was on in Frightfest that evening - the group wasn't going to anything. So I ended up booking for Transmission - and with its late start, I booked for The Glenarma Tapes, which was on beforehand.

Now, she was also going to The Glenarma Tapes - so we hung out together in the meantime, grabbing a bite to eat in Greggs. Which, I must say, does a very moreish steak slice! We also dropped into the Church of Notre Dame de France, which was lovely.


For more about that evening's films, see the next post.. I ran out of space for all the labels in this one!

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