Thursday 30 June 2011

Weekday walk #14

I didn't have my usual walking companion with me today, but instead I had C and O who have had a bonus day off school because of the teachers' strikes.  It is also my birthday today, and as a special birthday treat they agreed to come on a weekday walk with me, be cheerful and not moan once!

I wanted to do a walk from this excellent book which I received as a present this morning.  I really love this series of Ordnance Survey Pathfinder books and have loads for other parts of the country I've visited.  The walks are accurately described, interesting and varied.  There are excerpts of Ordnance Survey maps within each walk so that you don't need to carry a separate map too.

We started at Parliament Square, where the police had closed most of the roads and were setting up security barriers ready for the protest march.  This is a part of London I don't know well at all, and I loved having a good nose around while the roads were all closed to traffic.

Big Ben
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Police horses and policemen by the Cabinet War Rooms
Police horsebox in front of the Cabinet War Rooms
We headed away from Parliament Square and our walk took us on a meandering route through all the Royal Parks to Kensington.  We saw deckchairs in St James's Park and Hyde Park, and Guardsmen outside St James's Palace - trying to keep a straight face while all the tourists stood next to them and posed for photos.  Each time someone took a picture they would quickly switch their bayoneted machine gun from one shoulder to the other and make everyone jump!

Deckchairs in St James's Park

Guardsman by St James's Palace

We larked about under the big trees in Hyde Park and enjoyed the wide open spaces by the Serpentine as we headed for Kensington Palace.

In Green Park

By the Serpentine

It has been such a treat to walk with the children today.  I've got plenty more walks planned with them during the school summer holidays.  Just a few more weeks to go - I can't wait.

13 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday - what a great way to spend the day.

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  2. Happy Birthday! And what a wonderful gift of their company.

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  3. happy happy birthday, what a lovely day you've had!

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  4. Happy Birthday! Looks like a lovely walk. Laura x

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  5. Happy Birthday!! And glad to hear there were no moans about it ;-).

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  6. Happy birthday for yesterday! (I love your daughters outfit!)

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  7. Belated Birthday Wishes! I bet the children ahd a lovely time spending the day with you.

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  8. Happy Belated Birthday! And sounds like you made the most of the bonus holiday. Love the picture by the tree! K x

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  9. Hope you had a lovely birthday and got spoilt!!! Sound like a great walk - lovely photos your children are looking very grown up!!!

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  10. Happy birthday for yesterday - what a bonus this strike has been!

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  11. Happy birthday Nancy!
    Naomi

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  12. My children would have been unable to keep their promise not to complain. You're a lucky lady.

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