from Hong Kong

~ this was waiting for me when I got home tonight.  I was excited about the envelope a little bit more than the contents....

 Shiny new toys inside... I won't show you though, because it's a present for someone else!

Parkland Walk [& graffiti]

I recently discovered the Parkland Walk; a beautiful glimpse of country side running through north London.  Following an old railway track, it is in two parts.  The first (south) begins in Finsbury Park and leads you along to Highgate.  You know you've reached the end of the section as you are met with two towering archways, boarded up:

I couldn't resist climbing up the side of them through all the over-growth to see how it looked from up there:

 You have to join back with reality and walk along the main road for a couple of minutes until you get to Highgate Wood.

Having never been there before, I took a long meander around and fell in love with the small but charming reminder of a greener way of life.  It was a sporadic hot day last month that I went; so was happy to discover an in-use drinking fountain there too:

 Straight out the other side of the woods you pick the north section of the walk back up.  This leads you to Alexandra Palace and you can see from the photo below the climb you are making as the old track ascends:

 I loved spotting the old remnants of the train track as I went along.  For the majority of the walk the trees are so tall they meet in the centre above you.  There really was something quite enchancted about it all.  The London traffic was barely audiable for the most part, which really added to the escapist effect.

 Not only is it an attractive wildlife walk, but there is also the reminder of a modern day influence and some amazing graffiti can be seen along the way. 

My favourite spots was first of all this wall, just as the north section ends and you enter Alexandra Palace park. It was obviously brightly sprayed at one point but since painted over this green colour. With weathering the paint has begun to peel back in places and reveal glimpses of the colour beneath:

 In the south section of the walk there are even more treasures.  Something about this tree's roots, enclosing around the remainders of a red brick wall, really grabbed my attention:

In the final stretch back to Finsbury Park are numerous archways demonstrating a world of street art:

 Not to mention this fella - I really want to know what he is doing there!

For more info on the history of this walk see http://www.parkland-walk.org.uk/

It's a great way to spend a day or free afternoon, touch back with nature a bit.  I took some reading and enjoyed the sun in Alexandra Palace park once I got there, before heading back.