We organised a Travelodge near King's Cross station for Wednesday night and met up at the station - I'd got the train up from Yeovil to Waterloo, and then Northern Line'd it to Euston and walked over to King's X.
Dumped the bags and caught the tube to Oxford Circus and a quick trip to the Apple Store so that I could buy some bits I wanted. Then we wandered all over central London - sometimes on foot, sometimes by Tube, buying stuff and just generally looking around.
Back to the hotel for a rest and then back into town for tea and beers. Tea at Henry's in Covent Garden, then beer in a few pubs, ending up at the Salisbury on Charing Cross Road where we met Matt and Tess from Maryland and had a few more drinks.
Thursday and I wasn't feeling well at all - feet ached (Wrangler boots not right idea from tramping around London!) and lager not sitting well in tummy! Pete was flying out that afternoon, so we had breakfast in Guzel, a cafe at the top end of Gray's Inn road, and very nice it was too.
We wandered around the middle of London again, between Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, ending up back in de Hems Dutch bar on Macclesfield Street. I was on the Coke still as still not right from the lagers.
We went back to the hotel at about 4, picked up our bags and got back on the Piccadilly line - Pete heading towards Terminal 5 and his Hong Kong flight, me to Hammersmith for my second hotel at the Ibis in Earl's Court.
Silly mistake - I should've got off at Earl's Court where is was a half mile walk to the hotel, rather than Hammersmith where it ended up being a 1.6 mile hike! Boy was I shattered when I checked in - so much so that I just ate in the hotel restaurant!
Friday and I slept in - left the hotel at around 11, tube from West Brompton (third of a mile from the hotel - even closer!) and back into town for more wandering, even though my feet were now seriously aching! Brunch of a cheese and Marmite panini at a Starbucks and then, after more wandering, back to the hotel. I was meeting a guy from the Africa Twin website for a drink in the early evening, so wandered along to the Warwick Arms on Warwick Road, where we were lucky enough to have some free Indian fare as the landlady was throwing her birthday bash. A good night.
Saturday and my brother was driving up from Yeovil for the day - I'd bought him a tour of Twickenham for his 40th last December, and he decided to share it with me, so tube to Richmond and then £13 taxi far to Twickers :-O I got the bus back :-P Good tour, bought a couple items of clothing, then back in to the hotel for a quick rest and check emails.
Saturday night I met a couple of lads from the Adventure Rider website at the Princess Louise bar on High Holborn, so I had a pancake from My Old Dutch opposite the pub first (pancake, gouda, mozzarella, chicken and pepperoni).
About 16-18" in diameter - yummy!
After dinner, I wandered over to the Princess Lou where I met Paul and Ray from the website - Ray had ridden down from Manchester for the night, staying with Paul! Respect!
Stayed on the Sam Smith's bitter all night, and that was lovely stuff! Home to the hotel by about 1am - I think I'll go for a closer hotel to the centre next time lol
Sunday dawned and time to check-out. Was on the train by about 11.45 and back into London one last time. I wandered around for a bit and then, as my shoulders got tired from carrying the backpack, I gave up and got the tube to Waterloo - a couple hours early for the train, but seats!
Train back to Yeovil, arrived at Yeovil Junction at about 20:20 where dad picked me up. Back home by 20:30-ish.
Didn't even really unpack, just started charging the Macbook, and uploaded the few photos that I'd taken.
Next time, I'll have to do the stuff I wanted to this time - Emirates, Highbury, museums, IMAX cinema, all that sorta stuff. Still, at lesst it means another trip - wonde if I'll have company for that.....
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