Welcome the new sun at sun rise at 04.43 BS 2018 on June 21st. In the Northern Hemisphere (where we are) the day of the summer solstice is the longest day of the year (the day with the most daylight and the shortest night). This year the sun will be at its highest at 11.07am on June 21st. There seems to be some idea that it marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer but, of course, weather isn’t that neat and tidy.

The recently-invented traditional thing to do is to wave your arms around at Stonehenge but what fun is that. Join the new-recently-invented traditional Solstice Ride from Greenwich to Primrose Hill starting at midnight on June 20th and stopping at Bar Italia, 22 Frith Street, W1D 4RF eqarly am on 21st June which looks like this:

Bar Italia is an institution in Soho and is frequented by locals, celebrities and those after some of the finest coffee in London. Come here for coffee, football, delicious deli treats, beer, wine and everything Italian. This 24 hour bar is adorned with iconic imagery and photos, all telling a story. It’s been around since the 80’s and is a must-visit bar with exciting views over the Soho streets. Or so they say, I don’t vouch for the truth of every word.

The route map is here (new 19.15miles / 30.82km road ride : Summer Solstices 2018 Final) https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4760788.html. It looks a bit hilly at the end but I that is Primrose Hill. The hilly bits in the middle give the impression that it goes over St Paul’s rather than cycling round. The angel on the top will be amused.

This is a 19.15 mile ride scheduled to take seven hours so I Bar Italia (open till 4am) may be quite a long and well-lubricated stop. Sunrise at 04.43 as already mentioned and then breakfast as below. 

More ……………

Summer solstice 2018 in Northern Hemisphere will be at 11:07 on Thursday 21 June

The Earth at midnight during the summer solstice in June 2017

The summer solstice (or festival solstice), also known as midsummer, occurs when a planet’s rotational axis, or geographical pole on either its northern or its Southern Hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star that it orbits. On the summer solstice, Earth’s maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44°. (Likewise, the Sun’s declination from the celestial equator is 23.44°.) This happens twice each year (once in each hemisphere), when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the North or South Pole

The summer solstice occurs during the hemisphere’s summer.[2] This is the June solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the December solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs sometime between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere[3][4] and between December 20 and December 23 each year in the Southern Hemisphere.[5] The same dates in the opposite hemisphere are referred to as the winter solstice.

As seen from a geographic pole, the Sun reaches its highest altitude of the year on the summer solstice. The term is colloquially used like “midsummer” to refer to the day on which solstice occurs. The summer solstice day has the longest period of daylight, except in the polar regions, where daytime remains continuous for 24 hours every day during a period ranging from a few days to six months around the summer solstice.

START LOCATION:
Cutty Sark Gardens, London SE10 9HT
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/ruJhf4xh72z

INTERMEDIATE STOP
There will be an an intermediate pick up point by the needle on the South side of London Bridge at 01.00 hours

REFRESHMENTS
Bar Italia
Address: 22 Frith Street,
Soho, London W1D 4RF
Hours: Open ? Closes 5AM Thu
Phone: 020 7437 4520
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/22+Frith+St,+Soho,+London+W1D+4RP/@51.5134254,-0.1355839,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487604d2e8fd814f:0xec2d9a06e5b26cf3!8m2!3d51.5134254!4d-0.1312065

ROUTE
19.15miles / 30.82km road ride : Summer Solstices 2018 Final
https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4760788.html

Note on route : largely traffic free or on quite roads.

Access to the park is possible , we will need to dismount to walk via pedestrian gate and to be quiet.
Regent’s Park Office
The Store Yard
Inner Circle
Regent’s Park
London NW1 4NR
Phone: +44 (0)300 061 2300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7224 1895
Email: regents@royalparks.org.uk

BREAKFAST
Gianni’s Italian Restaurant
Address: 48 Horseferry Rd, Westminster, London SW1P 2AF
Phone: 020 7799 5225
web www.giannis-sandwichbar.co.uk