Using a method of travel pioneered by one of my cousins (Lisa, Kathy, Tess? I can’t remember who it was.. but I remember the story..) I closed my eyes and pointed to a random location on the train map I have. I landed on Baron’s Court station. Cool, off I set for Baron’s Court. It happened to be on the same line I catch so there was no change required.

I don’t have any maps and I’m not reading any travel guides, just training, busing and walking around looking at stuff..

Baron’s Court was pretty boring, save for the large courtroom building? that looked like a giant cruise liner sticking up out of the ground!

I think I walked through Hammersmith. Stopped at “Richmond Cycles” for a look. Small shop with some Gary Fisher mtbs and Trek roadies and mtbs and stuff, nothing of interest to me, really.

Saw the “Robin Hood” restaurant and giggled (I used to do archery).

Visited Ravenscourt Park which highlighted what Leo said to me the other day: “The English know how to do parks!” There was a massive grass area, trees, chairs, etc. like a Melbourne park, but keep walking and you get to a small “lake” full of ducks and other birdlife. Further along, there’s a skate ramp, play areas for little tackers and multiple asphalt basketball courts!! This place rocks! Back home all that stuff would be removed as soon as some spoilt yuppiespawn broke his arm playing bball..

Walked out of the park (I have no idea where I am mind you) and onto another street. Some guys in a van pull up and the passenger says “this might sounds weird buddy, but do you wanna buy some speakers?”

I laughed out loud at him because we have the same scam back home! I told him I was a tourist and he should try his luck elsewhere. The guys from Open Windows should remember this scam.. 🙂

The bus appeared to be heading for Notting Hill Gate and I got off when it looked like interesting walking. I found myself walking through Kennsington Gardens. Sat down for a bit here and watched the other tourists watching the birds by the lake. Deck chairs were scattered around the place but today wasn’t near as nice as yesterday so no one was using them.

On the way out of the Gardens I spotted the Goat Tavern. I had to go there for lunch and a brew, simply because of my fondness for the Goat ales back home. I wanted to compare Goats 🙂

Ordering bangers and mash and a pint of Bombardier(?) I found the bartender was an Aussie. Of course we got talking.. his name was Nathan and he was from Byron Bay. He was heading home in December after a year out of a Business degree. He poured me a freebie pint of the xx? Greene IPA they had. More chatter and another free pint later (I wasn’t hanging around for the beer I was just looking for info, honestly!) and his mate Anthony walked in. He worked around the corner in the Old Swan. He was out taking photos. Another Canon DSLR user (insert secret handshake). All three of us went around the corner so Anthony could cash in some pub freebie docket he had.. so more pints for us..

They were planning to go out drunken bowling. I had to take the camera and stuff back home and left it a bit late, so even though I was trying to make it back to the Goat by 8pm, I didn’t even get back to Ealing by 8. Fuggit! Sorry guys! I’ll visit again.. maybe to take that job on offer.. 🙂

More beers with Grant, Sheila, Leo and Mei-Ling left me with a nice headache to nurse.. bed time.