The Useful Places Tour
19 June 2003
Ride by Alix Stredwick discovering what local amenities the borough has to offer; swimming pools, cinemas, parks, libraries, museums etc.
A small yet perfectly-formed group of regular, occasional and new Wheelers joined the ride last night taking in Useful Places in the borough. A lovely ride round Mile End Park and Victoria Park in the dusky sunshine and long shadows was followed by a zig-zag loop through Bethnal Green, Stepney, Limehouse and finally Bow. Due to lack of time I had to cut out Whitechapel, Banglatown, Wapping and the Isle of Dogs but it was pointed out that the whole route could form a future day ride.
Slight disaster with my little basket-bike was remedied cleverly by Steve salvaging wire from a smashed-up TV (two-a-penny on that estate!) and we
finally made it to Three Mills via the new floating towpath (v interesting
and v useful). Turning back we navigated a route to The Approach where
numerous bicycles were tethered by other Tower Hamlets folk who hadn't come
on this ride but are now informed about the rest of our Bike Week events via
our stash of leaflets. Several shandies were consumed by the gang (yes,
shandies.....) and slight wobbles were barely noticeable when we said our
goodbyes.
Alix
Photos by Steve Collins & Owen Pearson. (Click on images for larger versions.)
