urban green walk - new river and regent's canal

     We never finished the Capital Ring (maybe soon) but we had another good walk in central London, finding plenty of green spaces on the way. Joined by good local friends Lyn, Judy, Jeremy and Gabi, we set off on another sparklingly clear day (with just enough of a cool breeze to make it ideal for walking). 

     First through Finsbury Park to the wide open skies of Woodberry Wetlands: such a good local asset now, and this time of year full of interest, with nesting swans and ducklings and goslings galore. Here we picked up the line of the New River ('neither new nor a river') built in the 17^th century to bring fresh water from Hertfordshire to the City. The line continues through Canonbury past allotments and grand tree lined terraces. Further on it has been converted to shady gardens with an ornamental stream (more ducklings and coot chicks - cootlings?) that take you all the way to Islington, where we stopped for a drink in a nice hipsterish place in Camden Passage with a cool (both senses) garden. 

     Then on through old haunts in Barnsbury, to pick up the Regents Canal just west of the Islington tunnel, passing many canal boat homes, through Kings Cross and eventually to Regents Park, where we sunned ourselves in the Rose Graden to the spectacular sights and sounds of a huge Ethiopian wedding.

     Good company and the feeling of summer in the air, all the trees suddenly new and fresh leafed, the grass brilliantly green, the sky a clear, deep blue, the splashes of colour and the smells of blossom and flowers: that May feeling when suddenly all seems right with the world.