I'm never drinking again..
FIFTH DAY - WANDSWORTH COMMON to CRYSTAL PALACE Ω
Isn't it a lovely day? Yea right. It may be blossoming in Balham, but it certainly isn't in my head. It wasn't so much the 'Youngs' Special' that I drank in the pub, it was the wine my friends poured down me when we returned to their house. I dunno, I always thought that such frivolous behaviour was something that you grow out of. I guess that's one of the lessons you learn when you grow up. Umm..you don't. - grow up, that is.
Opposite this delightful church in Balham High Road, lies an excellent cafe where I gobbled down a reviving full English breakfast. It was at this point that I realised it wasn't just myself who was feeling under par. The battery on my Digital camera was almost drained. So you won’t be getting too much in walking, information or pictures on today’s exciting adventure.
The next section saw me trudging along the streets like a soldier retreating from Moscow. I passed through some back streets in Balham and then into Toooting Bec Common. You then pass a busy Railway Junction before climbing up towards Streatham and Norwood. Ω
Where are the flying carpets?
There is one really interesting building on this stretch. This is not some exotic Kasbar but is actually part of Streatham Waterworks. Here's another site reference.
By the time I got to Streatham Common I was motivated enough to take a few piccies. It's actually quite a climb up the hill, well it felt that way today. However since it was such a pleasant day I took a couple black and whites. Ω
Once at the top, you move in an easterly direction and into Norwood Grove. It's quite a pleasant view from up here. Okay, the vistas of Thronton Heath and Norbury don't exactly compare with the plains of the Serengeti, but you know what I mean.
There were quite a few dog walkers around today, and one particular frisky young Alsatian was getting a little too friendly with an older dog. The owner of the older dog was not impressed. "You ought to put a fucking muzzle on that thing!" she said. Isn't it lovely the way a bit of fresh air and pretty rural areas bring out the gentle side in people's personalities?
As the photo shows we'll be climbing again up to the church shown in this picture. Through a couple of parks and then onto Norwood New Town. The only interesting thing that happened here was I got a phone call from an agency saying that a job interview I had undertaken the week before had gone very well and that I was on the short list. Obviously I didn't get it. In fact that is the only job interview I have had. Ho hum..
Once at the top - finally - we descend towards Crystal Palace. The famous (?) Ariel starts appearing in the distance. To celebrate the fact that today's journey was coming to an end, I took a few crappy piccies with my mobile and black and white. I shall include them to remind me of my fragile condition.
Almost there now. Just before the Station I stopped off at a shop to get some more liquids whilst the assistant was intently watching the final of the World One-day Cricket tournament on a TV hidden under the counter. Strange that I remembered that.
Crystal Palace station at last. Thankfully - purely for my benefit, naturally - the new Overground link between Crystal Palace and Highbury & Islington had just been opened. This meant my journey was one train followed by a single bus journey all the way back to my street. Hurray for Ken!!
That's the end of this abbreviated day. It seems a long time since I started this section way back at Robin Hood Gate. I promise that on my next section my camera and myself will be fully charged.
Crystal Palace station at last. Thankfully - purely for my benefit, naturally - the new Overground link between Crystal Palace and Highbury & Islington had just been opened. This meant my journey was one train followed by a single bus journey all the way back to my street. Hurray for Ken!!
That's the end of this abbreviated day. It seems a long time since I started this section way back at Robin Hood Gate. I promise that on my next section my camera and myself will be fully charged.