Prime Meridian

Today, Sunday, June 12 is the great Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride, with roads closed all over the city and more than 5,500 riders already registered. We woke before 7 am to a heavy downpour with gusty winds. Because of the weather (and because our train to London was leaving at 8:15), we'd scheduled a cab to pick us up at 7:30.

On the drive down to the train station, we mentioned the bike ride and asked how long he thought the rain would last. "All day, I hope," he said. "How many roads will be closed for the ride?" we asked. "Too many," he replied.

In any event, our cabbie got his wish. An accident involving a van on Sunday morning resulted in diesel and glass being spread across the surface of the roads, while there were also fears that a lamp post over the road might collapse. For the first time in the 18 years it has been held, the race was canceled.

While all of this was going on, we were safe and warm in our coach, riding the two hours to London. We got there about 11:00 and hopped on the Tube for Canary Wharf, intending to make the 12:30 service at Calvary Chapel Docklands.

Canary Wharf (and the Docklands area of East London) are sometimes called the Manhattan of London. It consists mainly of skyscrapers and shopping malls constructed on previously derelict land, known originally as the Isle of Dogs.

Since we arrived a little early, we bought some sandwiches and were entertained by a Robo-Cop-like robot in the mall. By then it was time for the service and so we went looking for The Idea Store, where they meet. The Idea Store is actually a public library in the mall and it was filled with students studying, using computers and reading.

The church rents some of the lab rooms for their service on Sundays. I wonder what the students out in the library think during worship, which is pretty lively.

After the service, we got to fellowship with some of the people at the service. Here's the pastor, Marshall Alnutt talking with some of the church members.

Ali and Bruce Johnston-White came over for a visit from Calvary Twickenham just because they heard Kathy was going to be here. Ali runs a Christian radio ministry here in England and Bruce does administrative ministry for different UK Calvary Chapels.

Kathy was also happy to see the book ministry that Philomena Mulandi was doing at the church. Here's Philomena with her book table.

We also spent some time talking with Dan and Debbie Arnold who are doing worship at the church.

After putting the chairs away, we went out to the Wagamama noodle bar for lunch. From left to right: Marshall Alnutt (the Pastor), Dan and Debbie Arnold, Bruce and Ali Johnston-White, Debbie Alnutt and Kathy. I'm holding the camera.

Marshall and Debbie graciously offered to host us in their house for our last three days in England. Kathy drove home with Debbie (since they have use of a very interesting 2-seater car), while I took the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) with Marshall. We actually both arrived at their home at the same time.

We weren't quite ready to go to sleep, so Marshall and Debbie suggested that we take a walk across the river to Greenwich, see some of the sights and have some coffee. Greenwich is often used as a movie set for period English movies. In the distance here you can see the Naval Academy and, just barely, the Royal Observatory.

We could have taken the DLR again, but they suggested that we take the Thames Foot Tunnel under the Thames and across to Greenwich. The tunnel, which was built in 1905 is really kind of spooky.

We walked around a bit, but it was really not very comfortable with the wind and the rain.

After a bit, we found a small restaurant and had a little coffee and desert. (This isn't the restaurant; just a nice-looking building.)

I found a plaque marking the Prime Meridian (the point that measures 0 longitude, from which we measure all of our time zones), but on reflection we decided it wasn't actually the spot.

Just before we headed back under the river, we found the location of the Cutty Sark. Our guidebook said that it would be finished by 2010, but it obviously isn't finished yet.