SATURDAY 20th MAY 2006

In 6 years the Olympics will be here. Specifically the synchronised swimming.

STRIDING SUMMARY

Route: Brick lane to New Cross via Bethnal Green, Victoria Park, Stratford, The Greenway, East Ham, West Ham, the East End Mountain, Beckford, London City Airport, Woolwich, Thames Barrier, Millennium Dome, Greenwich, Cutty Sark, and Deptford.

Distance: 30km

Nightstriders present: Aimee, Anna, Ben, Ian, Isobel, Luca, Lucy, Nick

Weather: Sunny, windy, south by south east, moving quickly

Synopsis: A well-populated cracker, this walk was an urban investigation of the highest order. Luca - our youngest and best Nightstrider so far - joined in this one and smiled, clapped and wooffed his way right up to the famous East End mountain. Thanks to Anna for bringing the little guy along. It unfortunately does seem as if he wasn't with us, however, as there aren't any photos of him. Watch this space though, he'll be the star attraction in the first ever Nightstrider film, due for imminent release!

The walk ended on the south bank of the Thames and took in such magnificence as the Thames Barrier, Minnellium Dome and the Sutty Cark. A number of incidents occurred en route, namely (1) Ian's footwear caused immense Achilles pain which led to a half-way exit, and (2) Ben's lovely special cool new footwear caused a mild blister at about mile 18, causing him to change into his sandals. You might want to watch out for this cunning switch in the photos that follow...

Kilometre: 2.5 Time: 10:45 Location: Victoria Park Description: More cute duck photos curteousy of Ian

Kilometre: 2.6 Time: 10:48 Location: Victoria Park Description: There was a funfair in town, and the (bass)line-up was hot

Kilometre: 4.0 Time: 11.15 Location: Canals of Stratford Description: In 6 years this will be the sight of the swimming leg of the Olympic Triathlon. Fingers crossed they remember to turn right at this fork though, the left turn is locked.

Kilometre: 6.0 Time: 11.48 Location: Three Mills Description: Too interested in his amateur film-making, Ben neglects to realise a young toddler to his rear has toppled into the canal, with mother in beige coat still unaware

Kilometre: 9.2 Time: 12.28 Location: East Ham Description: Not pasta, not smarty, not feeding, just Tubes. Lucy and Nick, striders from the start, departed when we got to West Ham.

Kilometre: 9.4 Time: 12.32 Location: The Greenway Description: The path was trecherous, with such curvature, such twists, such turns... we had to stay close together to win through in the end.

Kilometre: 11.5 Time: 12.52 Location: Still on the greenway Description: The Nightstriders passed this Norweigan thug going the other way. What we first thought was a hoodlum of the most treacherous kind, was later reveiled to be a world-class athlete taking part in the first ever horizontal-tree-trunk-holding walking competition, from Inzebruk (Norway) to Wembley (UK) for the start of the Hurdigun world championchips.

Kilometre: 14.2 Time: 1.18pm Location: Atop the east end mountain Description: How many white dots can you make out on the Norweigan's bandaged head?

Kilometre: 14.7 Time: 1.49pm Location: Near a broken DLR station Description: These were scarey collections of baby catterpillars swarming all over one tree. I think Luca wanted to eat them.

Kilometre: 18.1 Time: 2.58pm Location: The Thames, south side Description: Aimee takes over the official walk photography and captures some murky brown water quite brilliantly.

Kilometre: 18.5 Time: 3.04pm Location: Thames path Description: In her second action shot, Aimee's gone for more murk. Unfortunately for her this big oil tanker quickly sailed past at the inopportune moment of capture and ruined the whole shot.

Kilometre: 19 Time: 3.08pm Location: South side Thames path Description: Isobel spotted a family of Ostriches down in the water

Kilometre: 19.0 Time: 3.10pm Location: Same place Description: Ben is not impressed with the ostriches. We are not impressed with his clothing choices.

Kilometre: 21 Time: 3.25pm Location: An evil-doing bush Description: Ben is walking past an innocent-looking shrub when it uses its powerful hidden suckers to suck him inwards. He grapples and scrabbles... will Ben get out?

Kilometre: 23 Time: 3.40pm Location: The Thames Barrier Description: Well, it seems Aimee doesn't care about Ben's predicament, she's busy taking photos of more murky waters. This time her shot is ruined by these strange but well-insulated portacabins

Kilometre: 24 Time: 3.45pm Location: The blooming Thames Path Description: More, yet more water from Photographer Aimee. Nothing to see here. Not even the most famous building in the world in the background or nuffin.

Kilometre: 27 Time: 4.43pm Location: The frigging Thames Path Description: Suddenly we all run into the Norweigan again, this time busy filming a boat.

Kilometre: 28 Time: 5.05pm Location: TP Description: The warning sign was enough to alert us to a poor gentleman suspended above us. For reasons of decency the BBB.com editorial team decided not to show you the actual overhead Derrick shots.

Kilometre: 29 Time: 5.19 Location: Maritime Greenwich Description: No nightstriders in this final shot. We were too busy scoffing hot take-away pie from the luscious Greenwich pie shop! mmm mmm! Satisfy your craving with this shot of the CUTty sark, CUT in half by Aimee, for goodness sark.