By popular acclaim we repeated the Christmmas Lights ride two days before Christmas Day. It was a Monday, and not quite as crowded as on the last recce the previous day. But still VERY busy with motor traffic and especially pedestrians. 15 of us set off from London Bridge at 4pm. Everyone had given phone numbers and Ride Leaders and marshal (Bruce, Werner and Jane) had a list of all the numbers. Only exception was George who had registered via the British Cycling Lets Ride site.
Headed through Borogh Market and by back streets to the South Bank. Busy, but not much in the way of Lights. Crossed the Thames over Waterloo Bridge and into the Covent Garden Piazza. Here the acton had really started. Had a break to allow riders to go into the old market builiding to admire the big bells and disco lights, Next a complex route thorugh the area to Seven Dials where a sort of umbrella of tiny lights was hanging over the circus. Through Soho to Carnaby Street where they always make on effort. As at the Piazza, had to walk a stretch before getting into Regents Street. Super lights here for the 70th anniversary of Christmas Lights in London (these first went up in Regents St). Up to Oxford Circus and along Oxford St. OK lights here but always feel they should try harder. Down South Moulton St, no lights this year, and right turn towards Grosvenor Square followed by a series of lefts to get to Berkeley Square. Stopped at the Tyrannosaurus Rex – not a Christmas Light, but beautifully lit and a favourite. From there to Saville Row with the huge scissors once again strung across the road.
About half way at this point and everyone still present. Bottom of Bond Street, lots of fancy lights on some of the high end stores with huge crowds – walking again. Into Piccadilly and along to Fortnum and Mason with its usual Advent Calendar. A quick left and right saw us again in Regents St and negotiating Piccadilly Circus, into Haymarket and down to Trafalgar Square. Walked to the big tree for photos. Realised George was no longer with us. No phone munber. Waited a while as everyone had the map, but eventually contnued without him. Contacted George after the ride and he had made his way home OK. Finished along the Strand that had nice highly coloured decorations.
Effectively ended the ride in the Aldwych. Some riders made there own way home from the Aldwych. A sizeable group headed along the embankment cycleway towards London Bridge with most opting to continue on the north bank to East London or across Tower Bridge. Lights were if anything better than last year. Crowds about the same. Really bad to lose someone but no damage done. Route at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1MYD21OArO2nqkpSHPFYKggCfXbL7A-4&usp=sharing. Big thankyou to Jane for backmarking and Werner for leading while I guided at the junctions.
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