Dave and I have shared many adventures over the years but this was to be a true test of my nerve. Despite being an avid mountaineer I have in recent years developed a bit of a fear of heights. And, with that thought in my head, I contemplated that booking a trip up The Shard might not have been the most sensible of ideas - hindsight really is a wonderful thing. Still, (brotherly love and all that), my brother really wanted to go; so I swallowed my fear, grabbed a touch of dutch courage and tried my best to make it so.
A hearty breakfast for a hearty challenge
Destination Shard in sight
A not so hearty but equally meaty lunch (pork crackling and beef jerky)
Nerves of steel on the big fella
The Shard is a very impressive building. It's also a very long way up. 72 floors and nearly a third of kilometre vertically upwards. You also go up pretty quick. 6 metres per second or about the same time as my cranky lift at work does 5 floors. All fine so far though as we step out on the 68th floor...
Videoclip: Going up
It really is a long way up
Ice cool on the 68th
Stunning views over the dwarfed Canary Wharf
And then we went up to the 'half-outside' of the 72nd, and that was me done for I'm afraid to say. Waves of dizziness ensued but I tried to put a brave face on it. Dave's helpful 'look out there' comments really didn't help; nor did an attempt at a medicinal mulled wine. (Note to self: When feeling dizzy, drinking alcohol just makes you dizzier - hindsight really is etc etc).
So I retreated back to the safety of 68 but by this point my nerve was gone, and relief was clearly written all over my face when Dave suggested we head back down.
Back on solid ground, well ground anyway, Dave helpfully sent us spiraling to the bowels of the earth on the London Underground which further traumatised my sense of balance and direction. So that by the time we re-emerged at the O2 arena I was somewhat unsteady on my feet. Still, all things must pass, and ten minutes later I began to feel human again...just in time to head over the Thames by...wait for it...yes, gondola... Genius.
The rest of the day was a sensory whirlwind of London in full weekend swing. We had a lovely tour but I was relieved when we arrived at the evening's hostelry for a fine steak courtesy of Marco Pierre White's Steak and Alehouse. Mighty fine it was too. Then it was time to catch the end of the rugby, a bit more of a tour, and a couple of beers to top off a truly marvellous day.
Happy belated 50th Birthday big brother!!! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did...(or even just a touch more given my vertical challenge).
Brothers in arms
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