Wheelers Rides

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Tour of Tower Hamlets Boundary
24 June 2007

The Wheelers Border Patrol set out in somewhat adverse conditions to check that all was safe and secure around the Tower Hamlets boundary. A seven strong patrol was assembled on the Green Bridge at noon - about six more than I imagined what with it chucking it down with rain. 'Tis always reassuring when you are amongst others as nutty as yourself.

We headed off to Royal Gate East in Victoria Park (north end of Grove Road) to start the clockwise loop keeping as close to the borough boundary as possible. The first of only four vaguely interesting pieces of information I'd assembled beforehand soon was upon us - the most northerly point of the borough. It's at the entrance to Vicky Park at the top of Cadogan Terrace. And yes, you might have already guessed what the other three snippets of info might end up being...

Off past Hackney Wick and onto the Lee Navigation, past Three Mills and Bow Locks all in the driving summer rain. To add to the grimness we then went along the side of the A12 and into the rather run down industrial estates of the Lower Lea. As the rain cleared interesting point number two arrived in the form of Trinity Buoy Wharf - the most easterly point of the borough.

Now it was time for the long stretch along the riverside from Leamouth to Tower Hill - the boundary runs along the middle of the river. Down the east side of the Isle of Dogs ending up at Island Gardens for our well deserved tea stop at the great Caribbean cafe.

Off on our way again immediately reaching the most southerly point of the borough. Ok, so one of us should have really nipped down halfway along the foot tunnel but as we had no volunteers for the purposes of this ride the most southerly point we reached was about at the Elephant Royale Thai restaurant in Lockes Wharf.

Onwards northwards up the Isle then westwards, Westferry Circus, Narrow Street, King Ed Park, the Wapping cobbles to St Katharine Docks. We dutifully walked our bikes past the Tower of London smug in the knowledge that not many boroughs have their own real castle.

The joys of gyratories and other random one-way systems then meant we had a bit of a meander in the City to get going northwards again on Mansell Street. We'll have to refine that section for future editions and also the next section as the boundary goes along Middlesex Street but that's one-way southbound. So we chose to go up Goulston Street instead which is also one-way southbound! Our transgression was immediately punished though with a puncture stop and the start of more rain.

Off again and we arrived at the final interesting point of the day, the most westerly point of the borough at the junction of Bishopsgate and Brushfield Street. Ok, so this one might not be totally accurate either as this point could actually be in the middle of the Thames in the vicinity of the stern of HMS Belfast but as we weren't going to be paddling out there Bishopsgate did for us fine.

Continuing northwards along Boundary Street (of course) and onto Hackney Road we got thinking (well I did) it would be fun to coincide the ride with Hackney Cyclists' Bike the Bounds ride. Bicycle jousting along Hackney Road was considered but on reflection setting off together along the common boundary would be oh so harmonious before we branch off on our separate routes.

Anyway, enough of that, up Goldsmith's Row, onto Regent's Canal and back into Victoria Park. Job done, loop completed, the boundary patrol can report back that the borough borders are intact. Our computers told us we'd done 18 or so very leisurely if slightly damp miles.

And so to the Palm Tree for a short break from the rain before the final soggy pedal home.

A fun ride and so much scope for developing it with the addition of a few more interesting snippets of information about all the many varied places that are visited.

Thanks for coming along!
Owen

Pics: Kerry's | Steve's

Approximate route | Borough boundary map

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