My London photo seeking adventures

I have almost completed my bucket list for London – this time around any way. Today, I went on my own adventures in search of two photographs. One was successful the other still Missing in Action – or does it really exist?

My first tube ride by my self for this journey took me to Nottinghill. I wanted to check out Portabella Market and  see if I could seek out locations that the movie Nottinghill was fillmed in. First I had a leisurely stroll through the market visiting with vendors and debating on some really yummy treats. 

 I was so excited even with my lack of map skills, that I found the “blue door” . In fact, one of my flat mates just told me last night that she would like to video tape me trying to give directions to a tourist). 

On the way back through the market it was a crazy crowded, like as in they open the gates and where giving away free beer or something. Getting out of the market took a bit of time and patience as there were people on both sides of the sidewalks and down the center of the road. After I got through the market it was even crazier – hundreds maybe  thousands of people lined both sides of the sidewalks and were going towards the market, there was no place for me to go, except hang onto my pocketbook and weave my way through going against people traffic… The street was not an option, if you have recently been standing on the side of the road and have the experience of a bus whizzing by you know what I am talking about. Finally, I hit the main road and needed some water. I stopped at the Tesco mini mart and bought some H20. Even though, I had brought some snacks, I could not pass up that fresh, soft croissant with chocolate chips/chocolate filling. Oh so good. I made it back to the tube station. I decided that it was only 4 stops to my next destination and decided to adventure on.

You may be wondering where was I going? Was I off  to seek out the mystery photograph?

I was going to try like all get out to find the photograph of my dad setting a World Record racing his Triumph motorcycle…..as a surprise. Someone once told him they saw his photo hanging in a London Museum. I have been using various resources that I have here while studying and tracked down a possible source. “The London Motorcycle Museum”. The museum is only open on Saturday-Monday and when I left this morning they were not open. Therefore, having faith in the directions on their website and went for it. My directions said the museum was only 4 stops from where I was at Nottinghill and  near the police station, a mile from the tube stop. Heck a mile isn’t anything.  I advise to check actual directions vs reading them off  websites. Firstly, I got a wee bit twisted on the direction I was suppose to go on the train, so had to backtrack. When I got to the tube station, I asked the information booth for some help. I was a bit nervous when the lady said, “Madame, it’s a bit of a walk, you can not just pop over, and  advised that I take a bus. Found the bus. Whew yoo!  on my way. I asked a gentleman on the bus if he knew where the museum was and gave him the directions I had. Well, here I went.  I cut through the back of a grocery store parking lot. I found that you have to pay to park your vehicle to go to the grocery store. Interesting. Then I started asking people on the street, so down the hill around the this way and that a way. I finally found the museum… with fences and barbed wire… 

Oh my. But there were nice parks around and BWM’s. I walked through the open gate and two guys greeted me. Looks can be deceiving so I did not judge all the piercings and tattoos and the look they gave me  “like lady, what are you doing here at a motorcycle museum” I told them the story that I was looking for the poster/photo of my dad who set a record and we heard it was in a London Museum and the year. They asked me “we don’t mean to be rude, but was he someone famous? I said, “to me, yes, he is my dad”.  They showed me a poster and I was like nope, that’s not it. I asked if they had 1969 Triumph. Nope, I was a bit disappointed they had a whole row of bikes…. Why not?  I was really disappointed,  but before leaving, I bought him a little souvenir and asked them to take a picture of me for my dad and some directions to get myself back to  nearest bus that would get me to the tube station.  I really wanted to bring him a picture back. Dads  don’t ask for much, especially my dad. But he did ask me to find his photo for him. The crazy thing is. He called me tonight and the first thing he asked, did you go to the museum? Did you find the photo? Unfortunately, no, I did not, but I tried the best I could. 

Not the photo -- but this one at least says Detroit-