Tuesday 19 December
We were to rendezvous with H at Richmond Station and visit Richmond Park in the morning. Just outside Staycity, we caught H98 heading for Hounslow (terminal) bus station where we transfered to H37 (Richmond) and alighted opposite Richmond station. Considering the morning peak hour, it was a decent trip that took an hour.
H came from London by overground without any changes, though it took her 45 minutes. I was confident of where we were heading and led the group towards the river. We came to Richmond hill, which was not in my plans. The scenery from the hill top was glorious and we took too much time taking selfies. It was after we were in front of the Thames waterfront that we realized I have led everyone off course and away from Richmond park.
The Capital trail beckons and I had to remain focused to the plans of the day. Pat corrected our wayward course and soon we were on track. We entered the park via the Petersham gate and made a beeline for Henry mound. The view was gorgeous starting from the gate and west London laid below our feet from near the mound. There was a protected view of St Paul cathedral at the mound though the foggy skies made it impossible to see it.
We headed towards Sawyer's Hill and had our first sightings of deers. A little way towards the northeast of the park, we came upon 2 big pen ponds. Muddy patches were frozen over and dogs were breaking the ice and licking the water under it. Ducks, birds slid on the iced over ponds before slipping into the water at the ice edge. It was a lot of noise when ducks took off using the ice as runway into the air. Quite spectacular actually.
After a light snack at a rest point between the 2 ponds, we made a small loop round the pen ponds back to Sawyer's Hill. Just nearby behind thickets of tall grass, we saw our second herd of deers beyond. According to pat, the herd is mainly does with no male deer about.
Near the edge of the park at the playing fields, we came upon the largest group of deer fawns. What a strange sight to see hundreds of deers grazing with a backdrop of public housing. Many people were taking videos and photos of the animals but the deers were being no strangers to humans and left their admirers to their own devices.
Now 1.30pm, we went for a late lunch at the cafe located at the fringe of the park near Roehampton Gate. Food was pricey but delicious. It offered little refuge from the 0C weather outside since it was without heating. I ate facing the same herd of deers beyond the glass walls, the sun low in the horizon.It was 2pm.
From Roehampton gate, we decided to take a bus from Barnes Station by way of Priory Lane. It was a longish march to the station where we discovered no buses go to Hayes and Harlington or any of the stations that we came from.
We retraced our steps a little and hopped up 493 towards Richmond bus station, a 30 minute ride away. At Richmond bus station, we practically retraced our journey and took H37 to Hounslow bus station. Now nearing zero C, the short wait for H98 became long in the cold. The sun has set by then at 4.30pm. h98 ambled to Hayes and Harlington for a long drowsy 30 minutes.
We deposited our backpacks and H wowed at the large living space for the first time. Room 21 at Staycity has become one of our favorite hotel rooms in London.
We raided Poundland, Iceland and bought way too much food for dinner and snacks. Of note were 3 knives, a dustpan and a microwave dish for a pound each. It made cooking dinner and house keeping much easier.
It took us longer to get back than walk through a park. Richmond would be wonderful in summer and perhaps worth a full 10km around the Tasmin trail.
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