19: New heights over the Thames

Swinging in the cable car over the Thames - for @Deborah

 LOCATION: London

What's happening?

We had to hit a brick wall eventually I guess. So this was it. Did not set an alarm - just waited until the heat of the day woke us. Mind you, from 3 am till 4.30 am I had hung my head out the window watching the light show and soaking in the thunder and the rain. The storm was an absolute cracker! Really only minimal impact on room temperature but it was enough.

Meant that we didn't stir till 9, kept the washing going in our continued attempts to remove the Sahara Desert from our clothing and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at home.

Late start

And addressing the elephant in the room, we had a long conversation with @Leanne and @Gary. Their plans to join us were unavoidably changed last minute and instead of continuing our UK journey as a foursome - it is now just us. Amazing how quickly things can change. After all the long term planning to get us here, we have now had to work with @Leanne and @Gary to reverse our well laid plans - some changes definitely easier than others. Now means we have a responsibility to make the most of every opportunity so that we can share the highlights with @Leanne and @Gary. Miss them HEAPS already.

The Adventure

We had no enthusiasm for going back into the city, opting instead to keep it all very local here in Greenwich and, in fact, voted to dedicate our efforts to @DeLoy and hit the cable car. @Deborah might have even enjoyed this one.

Gliding above the Thames gave a quiet, hot sweeping view between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. It was built for the 2012 Olympics, and it spans 1 km, lasts 10 minutes, and once carried 2,500 daily passengers. Now averaging closer to 700. It was very quiet on this Saturday morning and we had the car to ourselves on each leg.

There were water activities in the Thames - much to the horror of @Leah and @Ali

Explored the water precinct including the town hall, the cable ski park and the impressive display of oversized art installations. 

O2 was massive inside and out - there was a roof climb!

Ventured into London's O2 - all undercover, part arena, part shopping village, part rooftop adventure. Loads of people and plenty of shoppers and climbers - no interest from us though @Mac declared this as his favourite shopping centre. Go figure.

Know someone who would have loved this corner of O2.

Bus home for a quick change and then rinse and repeat for Seven Kings pickup. Absolutely doing it like the pros. 

Zipping about on the tube

Joined @Leah and @Ali for a family celebration of birthdays and divided our attention between food and photos. This was a Turkish restaurant and it was packed. There were even security guards outside manning and controlling the crowds of people lined up to get in! There was an overflowing carpark complete with parking attendants! Crazy patronage.

No worries for us - because we had a booking to accommodate our group which included @Ali's brother, his wife and three children. Have to rate this as the best meal of the trip today. An absolute mound of meet with delightful dips and accompaniments and of course even a little birthday cake for the birthday girl. Relieved to report that we did not have to participate in any mass dancing display and the rain that swept through was no worries In this venue because they had a retractable roof that was silently deployed over the expansive outdoor area.

Best food! Licked the bones of the land offerings clean

Will see @Leah and @Ali on their visit to Australia next year but still it was sad farewells. These independent daughters who make a new extended family network overseas are definitely missed. 

Still very excited our ride was a car not the bikes 😅🤣😂

Can't believe we had another night of crushville in the tube - but you in guess you can count in this on the weekend. A whole new experience here because the crush was actually at Greenwich North - our base station. This time a Lily Allen concert at O2. The security team locked the patrons out of the station in order to control the flow of people. At intervals they cracked open doors to let the next few hundred people in. The only drama was that we were heading out of the station and as a door was opened to us to leave ... . the flood from outside tried to pour in! It was a stampede and a little scary.

The tube not only hot and crowded- but so noisy

Eventually got onto a bus by swapping to the 422 and  were very grateful quietly drag ourselves up the stairs at home. No visitors to our room tonight and the thermometer was only registering 28 degrees - looks like we are done with the heatwave. Admitting, we polished off the wine to celebrate the reprieve from the heat and toasted our London success.

A single moment 💋 for our vicarious adventurers the @Little-ns

Survival Barometer

Steps: 12 624

Weather: 32 with a cooler evening

Can you believe that?

A little background from Co-Pilot.

🔥 The Strange Science Behind Tube Heat

1. The clay under London is full — it can’t absorb any more heatScientists say the clay surrounding the tunnels has soaked up 150 years of train heat and reached thermal saturation. It used to act like a natural cooling sponge, but now it’s maxed out. Temperatures can hit 40°C even in winter because the heat has nowhere left to go.

2. More people faint on the Tube in winter than summerA bizarre consequence of that trapped heat: commuters bundle up in coats → step into a 30–40°C tunnel → overheat → faint.

3. The Tube used to be cooler than the surface — literally a heat refugeIn 1916, people escaped heatwaves by riding the Tube for fun. Deep-level tunnels were around 23.9°C, while shops above ground hit 31.7°C.

4. The Victoria line is now a slow-moving ovenPlatform temperatures have climbed from 21.9°C in 2013 to 28.2°C in 2024, with summer peaks around 31°C.

5. The Central line once hit 34.3°C at Oxford CircusDuring extreme weather in 2026, the Central line reached 34.3°C — hotter than many tropical countries.

6. Most Tube heat comes from braking — not passengersBreakdown of heat sources:38% braking losses22% mechanical losses16% drive losses13% train auxiliariesOnly 3–4% comes from passengers themselves

The tunnels absorb 79% of all this heat — and they’re already saturated.

Today's Spot the J clue - I know I saw one

"Are you coming home soon Nanny and Grandad - we need you to take us to see the birds?"