Stormy Weather

[salymap]

Some time ago, a number of us were in conversation about the Rotherhithe Tunnel. Salymap and SA possibly.

Anyway, on Sunday I was led by curiosity to cycle through it. I had heard tales of it being very noxious and not very pleasant.

Actually, it was not an uncomfortable experince. It's a pretty narrow and cosy affair carryng just a two lane carriageway with a high ceiling.

As there's a 20mph speed limit I wasn't too intimidated by the vehicular traffic, however it turned out to be much longer than I expected. It's a little under a mile but it felt more than that. Further more, going South to North there's a long climb out of it, so by the time I emerged out into Limehouse it felt as I'd been tunnelled for a long time.

Always nice to to discover a new shaft though, Matron!

ADDDED FACT:

Close by are the Surrey Docks where sections of the Mulberry Dock (so essential to the Allied invasion) were constructed. The area was also the first to be bombed at the start of the Blitz.

I think years ago I travelled though it on a single decker 228 bus, going somewhere, I can't remember where.

Water dripped from the roof of the tunnel and it was certainly creepy, even in a bus.

[Serial_Apologist]

Some time ago, a number of us were in conversation about the Rotherhithe Tunnel. Salymap and SA possibly.

Anyway, on Sunday I was led by curiosity to cycle through it. I had heard tales of it being very noxious and not very pleasant.

Actually, it was not an uncomfortable experince. It's a pretty narrow and cosy affair carryng just a two lane carriageway with a high ceiling.

As there's a 20mph speed limit I wasn't too intimidated by the vehicular traffic, however it turned out to be much longer than I expected. It's a little under a mile but it felt more than that. Further more, going South to North there's a long climb out of it, so by the time I emerged out into Limehouse it felt as I'd been tunnelled for a long time.

Always nice to to discover a new shaft though, Matron!

ADDDED FACT:

Close by are the Surrey Docks where sections of the Mulberry Dock (so essential to the Allied invasion) were constructed. The area was also the first to be bombed at the start of the Blitz.

Brave man!

[Mr Pee]

Brave man!

Brave indeed!! Driving through there is bad enough.. I can't imagine cycling it!!

[salymap]

Marthe, have just had an emailfrom Connecticut. They didn't lose power this time and kids loved the snow.
Hope Anna's family did as well as mine.

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyway, on Sunday I was led by curiosity to cycle through it. I had heard tales of it being very noxious and not very pleasant.

Actually, it was not an uncomfortable experince. It's a pretty narrow and cosy affair carryng just a two lane carriageway with a high ceiling.

As there's a 20mph speed limit I wasn't too intimidated by the vehicular traffic, however it turned out to be much longer than I expected. It's a little under a mile but it felt more than that. Further more, going South to North there's a long climb out of it, so by the time I emerged out into Limehouse it felt as I'd been tunnelled for a long time.

Bloody impressive...

Always nice to to discover a new shaft though, Matron!

Tried to make up a gag about cycling helmets but it was all too dodgy, so I'll simply say:

Hope you were wearing suitable safety attire???

[Serial_Apologist]

Bloody impressive...





Tried to make up a gag about cycling helmets but it was all too dodgy, so I'll simply say:

Hope you were wearing suitable safety attire???

First you must join a cycling condominium...

[Nick Armstrong]

First you must join a cycling condominium...

Where's rubbernecker when you need him...

[Anna]

Where's rubbernecker when you need him...

You wouldn't believe how many answers to that I nearly posted referencing various parts of a bike ........ or Lycra

I have huge admiration for the cyclists here who sally forth with nary a concern as to traffic or other road users. I was persuaded to get a, not exactly mountain, but an all-terrain bike for some fun off-road, that's quite enjoyable but in the end I decided I was not really sporty enough

Keeping it on topic: Saly, my relatives in Connecticut are OK and, as to dismal evenings, I find these cyclamens and other blooms on the windowledges really cheerful on coming home. I am now growing some indoor (white) hyacinths, some people find their scent overpowering though.

[salymap]

I think I was a pretty good gardener, when I could do it, and was very proud of my herbacious perennial borders and shrubs but I am hopeless with house-plants. Hyacinths shoot out of their pots, some don't grow at all. I much prefer cut flowers as presents these days.

[marthe]

Marthe, have just had an emailfrom Connecticut. They didn't lose power this time and kids loved the snow.
Hope Anna's family did as well as mine.

saly, I'm glad to hear that your family came through the storm without losing power. Snow is just heaven for kids! I try and remember that when I'm out shoveling the driveway! The latest Countryfile weather forecast shows our storm heading your way (as wind and rain) for tomorrow. What warm temperatures you're having! Here it was sunny and brisk today. Just the weather for starting the garden clean-up. I put all my poor coleus plants out of their misery, dug them up, and put them on the compost pile. The poor things were alive but in tatters from the strong winds and cold temps. I had beautiful coleus in the urns and planters this year...all grown from slips collected from friends' gardens last summer.

[marthe]

Doversoul, the weather didn't get in the way of Dad's memorial service, though two sisters had to brave the snow while driving through Connecticut from NY. Today the weather, though not warm, was sunny and brisk. Garden clean-up is now underway!

Anna, I'm glad that your family in CT are OK. The white hyacinth sounds lovely. I have two white cyclamen. One is scented the other not.

[Dave2002]

I have huge admiration for the cyclists here who sally forth with nary a concern as to traffic or other road users.

I assume you mean in the Welsh mountains. I have no admiration at all for the idiots in London on bikes who ride through red lights, plough through pedestrians at zebra crossings, go the wrong way up roads with cars coming the other way, weave in and out, ride without lights in the dark, ride on the pavements, ride across pedestrian crossings which should be for walkers, and generally are a total menace to themselves, but perhaps more importantly to other people. I know it's not all cyclists, but such a significant number of them are so badly behaved that they seriously let the reputation of cyclists down.

In the London context your sentence is something with which I disagree very wholeheartedly, though it does describe cyclists' behaviour quite well.

[Mr Pee]

I assume you mean in the Welsh mountains. I have no admiration at all for the idiots in London on bikes who ride through red lights, plough through pedestrians at zebra crossings, go the wrong way up roads with cars coming the other way, weave in and out, ride without lights in the dark, ride on the pavements, ride across pedestrian crossings which should be for walkers, and generally are a total menace to themselves, but perhaps more importantly to other people. I know it's not all cyclists, but such a significant number of them are so badly behaved that they seriously let the reputation of cyclists down.

In the London context your sentence is something with which I disagree very wholeheartedly, though it does describe cyclists' behaviour quite well.

As a cyclist - down in West Sussex- myself, I must agree. I often drive our work van up in London and am horrified at the behaviour of most cyclists in the capital. I ride a bike as though I'm in a car- i.e, follow the highway code, keep off pavements, etc., etc. It's no wonder that cyclists have such a bad image when they ride like idiots. Unfortunately, it seems to be the norm in London. I wish the police would really crack down on them, for their own safety as much as anything else.

[greenilex]

Morning all. Nice that saly is feeling better. Here it's still warm but I have a nice log fire to keep me cheerful.

[Anna]

When I said I admire "the cyclists here" I meant here on the MB, those who cycle in London, which I certainly wouldn't have the courage to do and of course I don't have experience of how they may behave to other road users or pedestrians. Where I am of course cycling any distance is the province of the super fit, due to lack of flat surfaces upon which to pedal!!