Olympic Park, London, March 22

 We set out to visit the East End and the Olympic Park. Our original intention was to spend some time there and then go back into London to the Wallace Museum. But, the Olympic Park was so interesting, that we spent the day there. The weather started out rather grey, but, by the afternoon, we had quite a sunny day. It is one of the largest urban parks developed in Europe in the last 150 years.
    The East End was quite transformed by the 2012 Olympics. It took a lot of wasteland and developed it and attached it to the city as it had been neglected and disconnected. Of course, it also displaced some people, but some affordable housing has been built and will continue to be built. (Always a question of the definition of "affordable."

     We started out by getting information from the volunteers at the information center. Turns out there are over 200 volunteers.
     We started with a coffee at the Aquatic Center and tried to get tickets online for the Accelor Mittal Orbit as they are cheaper on line. We failed to get them that way, so we walked over the the Orbit, an observation tower, and England's largest piece of public art and the tallest sculpture in the U.K. It is really high. At any rate, we got the tickets for the discounted price when we explained how we'd failed. The Orbit gives a spectacular view of London. On a clear day, you can see 20 miles. Children wanted a slide down, so that was included in the structure in 2016. It is a daunting drop. We watched several people as they emerged at the bottom. Whew!

     Two volunteers in an electric trolley, one of whom we'd met earlier, stopped and asked if if we wanted a ride to the Velodrome, our next stop, so, as the park is quite large, and we'd already walked quite a way, we took it. That turned out to be serendipitous in itself because the two women were interesting in their own right. One was so taken by being a volunteer during the Olympics, that she moved into the East End to continue being able to be there. The other woman, a retired engineer AND retired primary school teacher, commutes from 70 miles away to volunteer there.

     They told us lots of stories of the Park on the drive as we passed other venues. Then we went into the Velodrome where we got to see some cyclists practicing. All 4 Olympic cycling events can train in the park: track cycling, road cycling, BMX and mountain biking. We watched training on the 250 meter indoor track. It was interesting to watch, especially as the height of the banks on the end are very intense. As we had made sandwiches and snacks at Maura's we found a sunny spot in the Velodrome and ate there.

     Well fed, we walked back to the subway via the Park's gardens which were not much in bloom other than acacia trees and daffodils. There are gardens devoted to 4 areas of the world. There is also an interesting lock to observe.
     It was a great day out, lots of fresh air, walking and great information. And, because of the time of year and the initial forecast of grey weather, we almost had the 560 acres to ourselves.

      Then, back across London to New Malden and another delicious dinner made by Maura - Cumberland Pie. YUM! Hearty after a day in the fresh air.
      Mark, Maura and I never run out of interesting conversation and stories. It was a fabulous 3 days in London to start this adventure.