Going Underground

It was a very soggy South London that greeted me this morning, it had been raining heavily all night and while it had eased slightly by the time I started my watch, it was still very wet.

The rain had brought down much of the remaining autumn colour and in places it was like running on a yellow carpet.

Greenwich Park was very quiet just a few other hardy runners, dog walkers some with rather reluctant hounds, although other canines embraced the rain, a few harassed looking parents with hyperactive offspring loving the flooded paths, plus a small number of rather dejected looking tourists who had clearly hoped for better weather on their trip to London.

I did plan the route to escape the rain for short interludes, covered colonnaded walkway to the rear of the Queen’s House, and by the Chapel and Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College.

I had hoped to have my spirits lifted by students practicing at the Trinity School of Music, I was once greeted by a loud fanfare from them, but this morning the courtyard next to the practice rooms was eerily quiet – rain stopped practice. The rain continued to pour down so, as I skirted around yesterday’s birthday boat, the Cutty Sark, I took an unplanned turn down the steps to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel to get some respite – it was rather surreal running under the river but rather pleasant. The musical accompaniment that I had hoped for a few minutes earlier was oddly provided below the Thames with some beautiful sounds echoing through as a band, with a singer who sounded rather like Elena Tonra from Daughter, seemed to be shooting a video and taking photos – hopefully they’ll keep the image of an orange blur whizzing past (although in reality it will probably look more a plodding packet of Jacobs Cream Crackers).

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