Day Ten - Jun 21, 2014

London, ENG to Bath, ENG

High Point: Technically, Primrose Hill. Realistically, a canal walk bookended by markets

Low Point: Theresa's new friend, the crazy man on the train. Ask her when you see her

Miles By Foot: 5

Miles By Train: 130

Today's Weather: Hot. In the high 70's and sunny. A little humid for good measure

Tonight's Lodging: Pratt's Hotel, Room 301

Touristic Events: Portobello Market, Grand Union and Regents Canals, Little Venice, Camden Market, Bath

Travel Tip: Reserved seats on English trains? Anyone can take reservations...

Wildlife: It has to be English train passengers. Again, ask her when you see her

Daily Didactic

Today was a market/canal walking/heading to the country day. After a suitably late awakening and bite to eat, we caught the district line to Earl's Court and then to Ladbroke Station. This deposited us at the entrance to the Portobello Market. The market was relatively empty, with vendors just setting up. We could have ended up quite London fashionable if we'd had the druthers. After an entertaining look at a lot of things we couldn't fit in our packs, we made our way (with fits and starts) to the Grand Union Canal. We are suckers for canals and walked this one all the way to little Venice where we hit a pub for some fancy fish and chips. From little Venice we journeyed on to Camden, briefly leaving the canal for a walk in Regent's Park and up Primrose Hill for a panoramic view of London. After snapping a bunch of shots that make big things look small, we followed the canal on to the claustrophobically busy Camden Market. This market had stall after stall of great food and interesting curios. We didn't get to spend as much time as you'd like, because we needed to navigate back to Kew for a 5:00 train to Bath for the night. After a few rookie mistakes, we found Jerome and Lili's at 4:45, grabbed our bags, and began an adventure of canceled trains, crazy yelling passengers, and cramped quarters that eventually deposited us in the idyllic little town of Bath. We checked into the Pratt's Hotel, found some ice cream and a pint, and called it at impressively successful day of touristing.