Soggy Moose Travels

Black Friday in London:

  After a very long travel day and a most excellent dining experience at The Mayflower Pub we crashed hard last night. In room coffee was nice to have this morning.

We gathered ourselves together and walked to the Tower Hill station. Taking the District line to Wimbledon getting off at Putney Bridge, we made our way to the River Cafe directly across the street from the entrance. It is best described as a greasy spoon with a very good fry up. What’s nice about the River Cafe is you can order what you want. There are set plates but you can customize your order.

Lynn had eggs and toast. I had bacon, beans on toast, hash-browns and tomatoes. All was excellent. I would highly recommend this out-of-the-way café for a great breakfast experience.

I must add that the staff is very friendly and welcoming. We will be returning probably even before this trip is over.

After our breakfast, we took the Underground District Line to the Gloucester Road station. From there we walked to the Natural History Museum. The collections here are amazing and well worth a visit. During the Christmas season, a T-Rex is outfitted with a different Christmas jumper each year. Yes I had to get myself one.   We spent a good deal and more of the morning here at the museum.

If they make it in his size they must make it in my size

We returned back to Gloucester Road and did some shopping at at Waitrose for some light meal supplies. We seem to be ready for a couple light meals after last night and this morning.

We headed back via the District Line to Tower Hill to return to the hotel through the Christmas market. We shared a tuna and cucumber sandwich for lunch.

  The dragon boundary marks are cast iron statues of dragons (sometimes mistaken for griffins) on metal or stone plinths that mark the boundaries of the City of London. The dragons are painted silver, with details of their wings and tongue picked out in red.

Over our lunch break we did some laundry and planned a Christmas Lights Underground/Walk Spectacular.

We took the District Line to Embankment and then walked to Trafalgar Square for the Christmas Market there, enjoying the lights along the way.   From Trafalgar, we made our way to Piccadilly Circus as we enjoyed the lights all about.  

From there we were going to take the Underground to Covent Gardens. Alas the best laid plans were foiled. The train ahead of us broke down and we had to alight at Leichester. We then walked to Covent Gardens and viewed the lights along the way.   We made a few attempts to stop at a pub along the way but found them to be overcrowded. It is a Friday night.

We then headed back to the Tower Hill area and tried to stop at The Minories for a drink. Again, very crowded so we passed and made our way back to our hotel. We did walk through our local Christmas Market which was pleasantly calm.   Dinner tonight is a simple meal of soup, bread and cheese.   

Tomorrow is the Sarnie Party Christmas Special at Somerset House. We are looking forward to seeing what Christmas Sandwiches will be created and offered. I have a feeling it will be very filling.     

Off to London and Dinner at The Mayflower

Thanksgiving trip

We're merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily on our way
To nowhere in particular
We're merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily on our way
Where the roads are perpendicular

We're always in a hurry
We have no time to stall
We've got to be there
We've got to be there
But where, we can't recall

We are on our way to London or as the Romans said Londinium. Yes, we have some planned experiences and some time for new discoveries. We will enjoy a bacon butty from a cabbie shelter, a fry up from a great local cafe, visit some historical sites and for me simply revel in the amazement of standing in a place where history was made.   I was asked how many times I have been to London, I can not really say but my first visit was when I was about 8 years old. It is a paradox in that I am not a fan of big cities, but there are two of which I never tyre Beijing and London. This I can not explain.   Our travel day will be a long one and I hope we get some sleep on the plane.

After a pretty good nights sleep in Denver we were up and had a hotel breakfast. Re-packing our overnight clothes we cleaned up and prepared for a long travel day.   It took us one hour from leaving the hotel to drive to the parking lot, then on a shuttle to the terminal, through security and arrive in the club room. Yes we are early but having second breakfast and lunch here in the club room.

The UK now has a electronic travel authorization (ETA) which allows you to travel to the UK for tourism. The cost was £16 and is good for two years. We are still waiting the EU to get their system together as it has been years in the works.

The flight over was good and we did get some sleep.

With just carryon we went straight to the Underground station. We topped up our Oyster cards at the airport before taking the Piccadilly line, transferring at Hammersmith to the District Line to Tower Hill and the short walk to The Tower Hotel.

Our room was ready and we were checked in at a little after 1200. While we don’t have the classic Tower Bridge view we do have a nice view of St Katharines Dock. Fun to see some Narrow Boats docked there in.

We had booked with booking.com and found the rates on par compared to booking direct.

We made a cup of coffee in the room and settled in with a biscuit (cookie).   The Mayflower Pub is only 1.5 miles away so we decided to have a stroll down the Thames to the Mayflower Pub where we have a booking this evening for their Thanksgiving Dinner.

  On our stroll we first passed The Vault. This establishment is located in the lower portion of the Tower Bridges South Tower. It was a coal storage area as coal was used to fire the engines which powered the draw bridge.   

We basically followed the Jubilee Greenway, past many converted warehouses which in earlier days held the stores transported on the river Thames.

  Further along, we made a stop at the Old Justice. After being closed for around 5 years, this classic 1930s pub re-opened under its original name in February 2023. Having previously been unlawfully removed and then reinstated by the freeholder, the interior retains much of its original wood paneling, counter and bar-back. The pub was famously used as a backdrop for Paul McCartney's music video for No More Lonely Nights.

We had a pint of cider and a ginger beer, Lynn won the ring toss game.   We continued on till we came upon St Mary’s Church where we paid our respects to Captain Jones.  

A short walk took us to our goal The Mayflower Pub. As we were early we enjoyed a pint with a gentleman who was in the area to perform at an open mike poetry night.

Soon our table was ready and we were escorted to the upstairs dining room.   The evening meal started with some amazing empanadas. The spiced beef was wrapped in corn meal.   Then came a plate that overflowed with turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips (neeps), green beans, and sausage. It was all excellent and plentiful.   Desert was a pumpkin tart with ice cream and caramel sauce.   Excellent does not even come close to to complimenting the meal we enjoyed in such a historic location.

Here is a bit about the history of this historic pub.  
In July 1620, the Mayflower ship took on board 65 passengers from its London homeport of Rotherhithe on the River Thames. Rumor has it that Captain Christopher Jones cunningly moored here to avoid paying taxes further down the river. The Mayflower journeyed onwards to Southampton for supplies and to rendezvous with the Speedwell but after many delays, false starts and a devastating leak, the Speedwell’s journey with The Mayflower was abandoned. On 6th September, 1620, Captain Jones, along with 102 passengers and approximately 30 crew members, set sail from Plymouth, England on what William Bradford described as "a prosperous wind”.

After sighting land on 11th November, 1620, strong winter seas forced the Rotherhithe captain to anchor at Cape Cod, much further North than the original destination of Virginia. To establish legal order in their new homeland the settlers agreed, whilst on-board, to write and sign "The Mayflower Compact"; the first written framework of government in what is now the United States.Captain Jones later returned to London on the Mayflower, arriving at the home port of Rotherhithe on 6th May 1621. He died less than a year later and was buried at St. Mary's church in Rotherhithe, close to the mooring point of the Mayflower where she lay to rest in the Thames, no longer useful as a ship. A commemorative plaque to the voyage of The Mayflower now adorns the side of St Mary’s church and a memorial statue, dedicated to the memory of Captain Christopher Jones, sits in the churchyard.

Originally named the Spread Eagle Pub and it was renamed in the 16th Century to The Mayflower.

Back in the 1800's, seafarers docking at Rotherhithe with little time to spare were able to order a pint and a postage stamp here at The Mayflower (formerly The Spread Eagle). We are still the only pub licensed to sell US postage stamps - just ask at the bar! Might send a post card or two from there, or at least procure a stamp or two.

To return to our hotel we took the Overground to the DLR and all I can say is I am really really tired and will do a simple photo dump below. Sorry these are a mess but I need sleep and am being lazy.