Over breakfast we spied a runner, which prompted a change in plans.  Kew Gardens were on our agenda today, but we decided it would be worth it to watch some of the London Marathon.  After a decadent pastry breakfast (with really good, really strong coffee) we wandered off to find the last leg of the race route.

The path  down to the river took us through Chinatown, Little Italy, Leicester and Trafalgar Squares.  We followed the crowd and ended up queuing along the route, about a mile from the finish.  We cheered the last of the wheelchair racers and the first of the “elite” women runners – those that finished in 2 hours and 15 minutes.  The crowd was crazy!

OK, here is where our story gets a little sad.  We stood on that bridge and waited.  And waited.  Like I said, the wheelchairs went by.  The elite women runners went by, and I was getting a little antsy, maybe even a little  stressed about getting to the garden, making our tea reservation… I take full blame for what happened next.  Scott, sensing my impatience, said it was OK to go now, he didn’t have to see the male runners.  So…. we left.

That night, when we looked up the race results, we learned that we had missed seeing racing history.  The fastest runner came through only ten minutes after we left and HE SET A NEW WORLD RECORD.  He ran the race in under two hours.  And to add insult to injury, Scott read aloud, “BBC commentator and former world champion Steve Caram said, ‘There are things that happen in sport and you want to be there to see history being made – if you are watching on TV, then well done, but if you are in London, it is a privilege and it is incredible.”

So… we were in London and we were on a train to Kew Gardens while history was being made.

Our goal  today was Kew Gardens and it actually didnt disappoint.   As we stood in front of the Palm House, I remembered the PBS show, Victoria.  I can still see her standing on the steps of that stunning building.  I want to say the Palm House was the highlight of that garden, but -for me- it wasn’t.  As iconic as it was, I was hit with a wall of muggy heat the moment I entered.  That made it hard to appreciate the pure jurassic size of the plants, and the variety.  We later toured the equally beautiful temperate Victorian conservatory, found it much cooler and fascinating.  

I conquered an old fear today!! We climbed 108 stairs which wasn’t  the actual fear, it was just 65 more stairs than I usually like.  The actual fear was heights, and the fact that the “path” was only grating. We walked the circular treetop trail (one way!! No going back!)  After a few minutes, I decided to just own it. I walked confidently even though I could see the ground far below through the holes in the grate.  It turned out to be my favorite part of the garden!

We stopped for afternoon tea at a little tea house nearby, and it was… just Okay.  After having done the one at The Empress in Victoria, I guess not much else can compare. Oh, yeah, and there was an extremely weird guy, but I choose not to focus on that, but if you ever hear Scott and me say, “We want our coke in the gin and tonic glass, THE GIN AND TONIC GLASS!” You will know where it came from.

ANother take away for me was the fact that as we circled this enormous garden and castle (the home of George III and Charlotte (yes, THAT Charlotte – think Bridgerton), was that Every.  Little. Thing.  Every tree.  Every flower.  Every natural planting and mowed pathway and picket fence was intentional.  I also learned that I simply cannot take a picture of every flower that catches my fancy (Though I may continue to try).

The train trip dropped us straight into the party.  The party!!  The runners were still celebrating.  60,000 runners, their support crews, friends, and families – the largest marathon competition ever.  EVER..  Imagine something even bigger –  and even happier than a Seahawks crowd who just found out they were going to the Super Bowl.  We stayed.  We might even have danced in the streets!

In the photos hopefully you can tell how high up we were! And apparently, someone named Beth ran the marathon… not to be confused with me.