Last Days in French Polynesia...

Ashlynn’s final days in Moorea were not the best as she became disillusioned with academia after witnessing how some of the researchers undermined the others. It was also quite hot, but she still went on an occasional run...

…or hike. 

She really debated about whether to head to Rangiroa, the world’s second largest atoll (ring-shaped island), with some friends after she completed her research. Happy to hear that it was a great place to celebrate her 24th birthday with diving that she described as surreal.

Ashlynn had a great time diving on her birthday and the following day with incredible visibility. Much of the diving was in the open sea rather than on a reef. She said it felt like flying: Was really like we were astronauts.

She wrote that while some fish seemed to show no recognition of her existence, the dolphins, including the baby, knew they were there and came to them. We were guests in their world and they were observing us. She also saw lots of sharks and a manta ray and barracuda. It was great that she could end her three-month adventure on such a high note.

 

An Entertaining Walk Across London...

Paddington Basin

On May 15, I went to an art exhibition at a small gallery near Paddington Station. Afterwards, I decided to walk home. 

Boy and Dolphin in Hyde Park Rose Garden

Wellington Arch Built in 1830

For the first time, I happened upon Tower Bridge when the drawbridge was open. I was surprised to learn that the bridge actually opens several times every week and there is no charge to the ships to pass through despite the havoc they wreak on traffic. 

It was quite exciting to watch a cruise ship sailing through the iconic bridge.

While this cruise ship was relatively small, holding only around 200 guests, it looked huge compared to the Thames Clipper ferry that zooms past our house every day. 

Tower Bridge is as far as larger ships can go up the Thames as nearby London Bridge doesn’t open. 

The only place for large ships to tie up overnight is next to the USS Belfast, which is permanently docked on Southbank. Apparently, this ship was ending their cruise there and then setting sail with new passengers the following day.

As I continued on my walk home, I also saw the lock at St Katharine’s Dock open for the first time.
 

A Variety of Hashes...

It was nice that Veronica had a hole in her schedule to hash with us while she was in town in late April. Here she is getting her down-down at London H3 in South Woodford.

I can’t remember what particular crime they committed this time, but Opee and Sweetheart always enjoy doing down-downs together.

The London H3 trail on May 11 in Norwood Junction featured a lot of colorful buildings...

…and some good advice.

Opee hared Black Death H3 on May 12 from Wapping and our neighbor Will joined us. The small pack got pretty lost as the trail went up and down the stairs and walkways of one of the larger apartment buildings, but we eventually found our way to the loop around the Tower of London.

The trail ended on the Thames Path with this view of Canary Wharf. Opee spoiled everyone with homemade chili...

…and cocktails for those that came back to our flat afterwards.

 

A Dog Hunt in Canary Wharf...

On May 8, we woke up to a surprising amount of fog, so much that it was difficult to even see the river.

Every Man Has Their Day

A few hours later there was no sign of fog, just nice blue skies. I walked down to Canary Wharf to take the Paws on the Wharf 5K Trail featuring sculptures of guide dogs painted by local artists.

While there were no dogs reflected in this sculpture, I have a hard time walking past it without taking at least one photo.

Jurassic Bark

Paws for Thought

This dog was in a great location as its colors matched perfectly with the surrounding area.

Bark to the Future

 

A Very Wet Hike...

On May 6, I met up with Camilla and Julia to go on a training hike for a hiking holiday we would be going on in June. Since we were heading south to Tunbridge Wells, traffic wasn’t as bad as when we’ve had to cross London to head north or west. 

Not only did our hike include several water crossings...

…and lots of mud

…but it poured for hours.

Luckily it didn’t rain the entire time and there was lots of pretty scenery. Unluckily the final leg of the trek included having to cross two busy roads, which was quite unnerving due to the fast speeds and lack of crosswalks. We eventually made it back to the car, changed into dry clothes and shoes and had a delicious pub meal at Abergavenny Arms. Five months after our hike, Camilla and Tristram moved to a farm not too far from that pub. 

 

Old Friends...

At the beginning of April, Veronica spent a weekend with Ellie and Fiona, two old friends from the BSN.

Later in the month, she met up with Lizzie, also from the BSN, in Wapping for coffee and then we invited Lizzie to join us for a Sunday roast at the Prospect of Whitby. Since we saw her in late April, she got married, the first of Veronica’s high school friends to take the plunge.

Ironically, I was asked to RA at that West London H3 trail in Kew Bridge, so I got to give a down-down to our visitors: Slippery Edge and On the Edge. They also hashed with us at London H3 that weekend and we also went to the Imperial Museum. 

After the hash that Saturday, Jimmy and I met up with some other old friends for a drink. We had last seen Curt, who we knew from the San Diego Hash, Veronique and Nils, who was just a toddler at the time, in 2013 at their house in Aix en Provence. Now at 12, he is completely bilingual in English and French. 

 

Between Visitors...

After Holly and Drake left, I headed to a special exhibit of Andy Warhol at Halycon Gallery on New Bond Street, London’s most upscale shopping street. My favorite part of the gallery was this room featuring work by Keith Haring rather than Warhol.

Other gallery visitors were quickly approached by employees to discuss purchase options. Perhaps my hash shoes scared them away?

You know you’re walking through a posh neighborhood when you pass a Rolls Royce dealership.

I eventually caught a Tube to Kew Bridge for West London H3’s trail. I arrived too early to meet Lisa and Mark, our visitors from Amsterdam, so I took a long walk along the Thames and one of its tributaries.