The World Naked Bike Ride - London
Ok, let me first start off by stating yet another celebrity I saw in London. I went to lunch with Keri last week, she is stressing about filming her short and needed a bit of a break. I was actually right around the corner from the SoHo Screening rooms where I got to see How To Be, heading towards Keri's office and I nearly ran right into James May!
Now many of you won't know who James May is, but he is a presenter on one of my FAVOURITE UK shows, Top Gear.
James May in not my favourite of the presenters, Richard Hammond is my fave because he is freakin' ADORABLE and Clarkson, well I love Jeremy Clarkson because he is an absolute asshole in the best of ways. But it was still pretty cool. It makes me appreciate London a bit more.
That area of SoHo is always crawling with famous people apparently though. Keri has seen everyone from Jonathan Ross to Sienna Miller to who knows who else down there, so I guess I am not all that special.
Now onto the topic of this post, The World Naked Bike Ride:
On Saturday 14 June 2008 the fifth London Naked Bike Ride returns to the streets of the capital, allowing riders to see the city sights from the comfort of their own bike or skates. The ride is easy and upbeat, and riders decorate their bodies and bikes with messages of protest against oil dependency and car culture.
This meant that while Jools and I were wandering around central London (Covent Garden / Seven Dials to be specific) suddenly the enitre street just STOPPED. Cars, people, EVERYTHING. WE had no idea what was going on until suddenly over 1,000 people, NAKED, with police escorts at either end, rode by on bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, etc. shouting and playing music. All shapes. sizes and ages. Some were painted in slogans, or just bizarre art, some were wearing masks, but all were wearing NOTHING (or damn near nothing) else. It was truly a sight to behold. And in some cases looked extremely uncomfortable.
I couldn't stop smiling. Though I found it typically British that no one on the sidelines was cheering and hollaring for these brave souls (I did and got a few funny looks from the bystanders but was greatly appreicated by the riders). Surely in the states people would be cheering them on. However, I like to think that everyone was just in a state of absolute SHOCK. It was brilliant.
I just had to share that little anecdote with you.
It has been gloriously sunny for over a week here in London and I am very happy about that. However, I can't help but have that nagging in the back of my head that it will all end very soon and the grey skies and rain will return. But I have always been a pessimist. That, and I know I am rgiht. But for now I am enjoying picnics in Alexandra Palace Park and long walks through Hampstead Heath.
Now many of you won't know who James May is, but he is a presenter on one of my FAVOURITE UK shows, Top Gear.
James May in not my favourite of the presenters, Richard Hammond is my fave because he is freakin' ADORABLE and Clarkson, well I love Jeremy Clarkson because he is an absolute asshole in the best of ways. But it was still pretty cool. It makes me appreciate London a bit more.
That area of SoHo is always crawling with famous people apparently though. Keri has seen everyone from Jonathan Ross to Sienna Miller to who knows who else down there, so I guess I am not all that special.
Now onto the topic of this post, The World Naked Bike Ride:
On Saturday 14 June 2008 the fifth London Naked Bike Ride returns to the streets of the capital, allowing riders to see the city sights from the comfort of their own bike or skates. The ride is easy and upbeat, and riders decorate their bodies and bikes with messages of protest against oil dependency and car culture.
This meant that while Jools and I were wandering around central London (Covent Garden / Seven Dials to be specific) suddenly the enitre street just STOPPED. Cars, people, EVERYTHING. WE had no idea what was going on until suddenly over 1,000 people, NAKED, with police escorts at either end, rode by on bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, etc. shouting and playing music. All shapes. sizes and ages. Some were painted in slogans, or just bizarre art, some were wearing masks, but all were wearing NOTHING (or damn near nothing) else. It was truly a sight to behold. And in some cases looked extremely uncomfortable.
I couldn't stop smiling. Though I found it typically British that no one on the sidelines was cheering and hollaring for these brave souls (I did and got a few funny looks from the bystanders but was greatly appreicated by the riders). Surely in the states people would be cheering them on. However, I like to think that everyone was just in a state of absolute SHOCK. It was brilliant.
I just had to share that little anecdote with you.
It has been gloriously sunny for over a week here in London and I am very happy about that. However, I can't help but have that nagging in the back of my head that it will all end very soon and the grey skies and rain will return. But I have always been a pessimist. That, and I know I am rgiht. But for now I am enjoying picnics in Alexandra Palace Park and long walks through Hampstead Heath.