Tag Archives: london

Paris on a Bike

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22.jpgWhen we still lived in the UK, I took part in a charity bike ride. The ride was from London to Paris and was in aid of the Royal British Legion. Spread over 4 days, the first leg was from London to Dover and over on the ferry to Calais, the second leg was from Calais to Abbeville, the third was Abbeville to Beauvais and the last was Beauvais to Paris. The first leg was not a lot of fun. Eighty miles through the south east on some busy roads when you were pretty much left to your own devices was not too relaxing. The trip through France was a totally different story.

12.jpgFor our whole ride through France we were escorted by motor cyclists. It was like being in the Tour de France. As we approached, the traffic pulled aside and the motor bikes cleared our path. Red lights and stop signs meant nothing. In each town at which we stopped, the town would turn out to provide us with food and wine (not a good idea when there is a big climb straight after lunch) and entertainment. Everyone was unbelievably welcoming and we were constantly being cheered along by anyone we passed.

03.jpgEach town we stopped overnight in would have a parade. The remembrance ceremony each time would be a really well supported event and I felt like I knew the Marseillaise by heart by the end of the trip. The first two days were eighty miles each, the third was a slightly easier seventy miles and the last day was under sixty. I had always thought of northern France as quite flat. I will never make that mistake again.

28.jpgThe final day was pretty impressive. We rode through the outskirts of Paris coming through areas I had heard of before but never visited. Then we were running in to the center of the city itself. The run up to l’arc de Triomphe with all of the traffic was an amazing feeling. The whole group together with our police escort stopped Paris traffic. We rode around the monument before parking our bikes and then walking up the Champs Elysée before holding a final remembrance ceremony under the arch itself. Quite an impressive event and one that really meant something after the effort to get there.

19.jpgI only had a small film camera with me so there aren’t too many shots and they were taken while on the move.   Hopefully they will convey something of what was a really cool trip.

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RAFM Hendon

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wpid12107-1103.jpgA recent project a colleague was working on involved some shots from the RAF Museum at Hendon. I had made a visit to this museum when I was a student living in London and had taken some photos at that time. I took a look through the old films to see whether I had anything that they needed. As it turned out, I didn’t have a shot of what they were after. As is so common when going through film archives, I find that I took a ridiculously small number of shots of interesting things and I am disappointed by the lack of shots and the quality of some of them too.

wpid12103-1102.jpgHowever, it was kind of interesting to see what was there at the time. Having never been back since, I have no idea how it is currently laid out and what is there that wasn’t before and what has gone. However, I do know that the Blackburn Beverley that was outside when I was there was scrapped not too long after that as the airframe had deteriorated in the outdoor storage. These shots are just a couple from that visit.

Helicopter Over London

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wpid7967-C59F9300.jpgMy Dad’s 70th birthday seemed like something that deserved a decent present.  What to get him though?  As someone who spent his entire working career in London property, he has seen all parts of the city many times.  However, I know he hasn’t seen it from above so much.  Therefore, a helicopter ride over the city seemed like a good idea.  The fact that I thought it would be really cool too is neither here nor there!

wpid7958-C59F9268.jpgI asked a friend of mine who flies helicopters who he would recommend for this and, being an outstandingly good fellow, he volunteered his services.  A very generous gesture.  Having someone I know flying the trip meant it was a lot easier to discuss exactly what we wanted to do.

wpid7965-C59F9292.jpgThe helicopter corridor across London runs along the River Thames.  You join it at Greenwich to avoid the London City Airport airspace and then head along the river through the city and out to the west until you reach Fulham at which point you peel off to avoid Heathrow – always a good idea if they aren’t expecting you!

wpid7952-C59F9223.jpgThe weather was not quite what we had hoped.  The day started very nicely but the haze built up as we went.  Flying early was probably a good idea since it didn’t clear up again until the evening at which point the birthday party was underway.  I saw a few buildings that have sprung up since I left including The Shard.  I do love London and seeing it again from such a great vantage point was a lot of fun.  I hope Dad enjoyed it as much as I did!

Hailing a Cab

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As we drove along the south side of Maui, we passed through a small settlement.  At the side of the road was an old London cab.  This was of the vintage of Austin built cabs where there was an open space beside the driver where trunks could be stored.  These are a rarity anywhere but to find one so far from London was a surprise.  I guess you can always get a London cab if you need one!