Tue 210720 Paid CashPlus £50.00/Went for an evening bike ride: Camden Canal

PAID CASHPLUS £50.00

I knew I had to pay CashPlus their monthly sum due; only I really wasn't sure if the payment I made was 'late' or not...I, usually, am meant to pay them mid-month; instead, I paid them after the 20th...? Anyway, I paid them £50.00; and, when I checked, later on, it said the current balance still owing is around -£214.00 DR. I guess, it's gonna take a while to pay them off fully.

2 PM (approx.) MISSED PHONE CALL

I got a missed phone call from the DHSS; which I tried to dial back...but, the answerphone message said...there's no need to call them; as they will call me back, again, eventually; so, I left it at that.

4:45 PM WENT TO VISIT BANK IN BRIXTON

I rode my bike off to Brixton bank; rode through Herne Hill park along the way; as I needed to make an urgent withdrawal to pay for my my mum and aunt's grave headstone...which costs £1,000.00.

However, as usual, I left 'late'...should have left 1/2 an hour before the bank closes; instead, I left at 15 minutes to 5. When I actually arrived the bank was already closed. So, who knows, maybe, tomorrow I will try, again.

RODE MY BIKE TO VISIT TATE BRITAIN, CLOSED

Tate Britain was closed.

I took a side turning off Millbank...towards St James. 

Saw that the previous Starbucks that used to be open there...is, now, closed down.

Crossed over the road...and, kept going towards Big Ben.

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, CLOSED

I next rode off towards St James Park...; in St James Park...I used the FREE public toilets...to wee/and, washed my hands, thrice...; afterwards, I crossed the road ending up at Piccadilly. 

Crossed over the road, to look at the RAOA building...all locked up shut/closed.

ALL SAINTS CLUBSHOUSE, 131 CLEVELAND STREET, GREAT PORTLAND STREET STATION, CLOSED

From Piccadilly, I rode through Soho...up along Wardour Street...over to Cleveland Street -and, past London's Post Office Tower- to go and visit All Saints Clubhouse...where Gambler's Anonymous meets. They were shut...with a notice on the door stating that according to government guidelines all current meetings were postponed.

REGENTS PARK ZOO, CLOSED

From Cleveland Street, and, Great Portland Street tube station; I crossed the road...and, entered Regent's park...and, I kept on riding straight...until I got to the stretch where the zoo is...only I didn't see any animals 'moving'; so, I guess they were closed.

CAMDEN CANAL

From Regent Street, I decided to go downstairs...into the Regent's Canal. Frankly, I really wasn't too sure which end to turn; but, there is a boat restaurant...and, I turned towards that entrance...and, just kept on riding straight...though Camden...and, Pirate Castle...straight up until the very end of the canal. 

At that point, I decided to climb upstairs...and, did two turn rights; which took me into a main road.

I saw an Indian guy sitting down begging on the streets; felt really sorry for him...had a quick chat...and, also, handed him all of the spare change money I had inside of a plastic bag...must have amounted to 1 or 2 pounds. 

GRAY'S INN ROAD

A white lady stopped to direct me which way to go to return to King Cross; so I took it. It wasn't difficult just a straight road...; and, then, all of a sudden before I even knew it...I was a Kings Cross station. From there I took Gray's Inn Road.

I did around £5.00 worth of shopping on Gray's Inn Road...inside of a CoOp store. I brought 2 chocolate bars/and, 1 pack of chocolate Twix; and, also, a large bottle of Orange Lucozade. I felt extremely thirsty, and, was getting worried about possible dehydration(which in my time I have suffered before when undertaking long bike journey...all the time you are losing liquid without actually knowing it; that loss of liquids needs to be replaced).

From Grays Inn Road...I gradually made my way to reach Charing Cross -travelling pass the Savoy hotel-; next, I took a side turning...which led me down towards the Embankment. I climbed up the staircase...and, rode along the Embankment bridge all the way to the other side.

WATERLOO, LEAKE STREET TUNNEL

I rode into and around the back of a church in Waterloo; then, continued my journey onwards through Leake Street Tunnel...; then, back, again...; then, out and towards St Thomas Hospital...not all the way there...but, near it...without crossing the street. I passed by a road where an Buddhist temple used to be located; then, rode straight on...down towards Vauxhall. 

TOOTING BROADWAY TUBE STATION

From Vauxhall, I rode straight up to Stockwell; and, then, onto Clapham Common/Clapham Common South/over to Balham/then, over to Tooting Broadway. At Tooting Broadway, I brought myself 2 pieces of chicken and chips; but, all the time, was afraid to touch it with my hands...which I felt might be too dirty. Had to wait to get home before attempting to eat the chips...as I needed desperately to wash both my hands, first.

From Tooting Broadway...I rode my bike along...I think, the road is called, Church Road...and, then, turned right...kept on going straight...until I got to Becmead Avenue(I think, it's called)...and, that road led me into Streatham High Street. I turned right along the high street...and, rode up towards Streatham station. Then, I went down a set of steps...I think, it's Russels Path...which, eventually, led me up a short cut turning...opposite Wellfield Road.  From Well field Road, I turned right...and, into Leighham Court Road...; cut across the road...then, downwards from St Julian School. Eventually, I ended up home.

CONCLUSION: LONG/EXPENSIVE JOURNEY

Boy, that was quite a 'long' journey; and, very 'expensive' trip, too...costing me all of £10.00, at least; which is money I can ill afford!

I'm afraid, that's exactly what tends to happen when you go out for a long trip...without taking any food/drink of your own...namely, you get awfully hungry/thirsty...and, will need to do something about it really 'fast'; otherwise, one ends up suffering from severe 'dehydration'...weakness/tiredness/confusion/lack of energy/strength/wanting to completely 'give up'/sleep. 

Next time, I decide to go out for a really long bike ride...; I swear, I must remember to take along some food/drink with me...as well as, a back pack...which can leave both hands free to cycle with; rather than have the shopping bags hanging off the bikes handle bars...and, constantly, hitting against the bike front wheel...which threatens to tear the bag into shreds...and, have the bag contents go spilling out onto the concrete pavements(a constant worry/fear). 

In my own defence, I really didn't know I was going out for a long ride...I thought I was just going to Brixton; then, back, again; but, the best laid plans of mice and men tends to go 'awry'...even at the very last minute/second.

The streets of Central London are no longer as totally jam packed as they used to be before Choronavirus; there are more and more people, slowly, appearing...but, most places are, in fact, 'closed'.

You can still come across a few places where you can buy food/drinks, though...some MacDonald shops are still open; and, also, a few restaurants/or, general food stores here and there.