Sunday 1 February 2009

Bow to Angel - 6 miles

It's been a challenge to kickstart walks for this new year. There were plans for a trip out to Harlow for a country walk but that was shelved due to weather and scheduling issues.

But if we can't get out of the city to enjoy the beauty of the countryside, we should embrace the city and all its grittiness.

We started off early this Sunday morning. After some mild confusion as to which Bow station we were meant to meet, we went in search of the path down to canal side.

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Eastside, the views around the canal are fairly urban and grotty. We followed the curve past warehouses, old docks and disused shacks. It was pretty odd to spot oast houses in the area.



It was early, but already, the canal path was crowded. Walkers, dogs, runner and cyclists streamed past in various speeds and gaits. It always struck me as fairly reckless the way cyclists would speed across the path, trusting in walkers to get out of the way in time. Yo, some of us are half-asleep until we've had a gallon of coffee.

I'm still holding out for a walk where some lycra-bodied wheeler will tumble in and make a huge splash.



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At one point, it was pretty funny. Two women carting large brown crates on their bikes were trying to get through the path under one of the bridges. The crates were a little too large for them to walk through upright with the bikes. They had to tip them at a strange angle, balanced against the bikes and edge their way past without falling in. We did offer to help but were waved away, so we watched their maneuvers with interest and mild amusement. .

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The canal bridges were also covered with graffiti, some tagged by more famous artists than others.



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We arrived at Angel in time for hot coffee and pastries.

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