13th JAN. SUNBURY to THAMESIDE YHA , SE16

We were not hanging around today. The added incentive was the Youth Hostel in Se16, Bermondsey. It was a peaceful night sleep, and with only bics and earl grey for breaky we got moving.  It seemed so dark again,  packing up with head torches.
It was not long before we were at Hampton Court , crossing over the Thames and making our way in a more direct route inland along the walled Hampton Court Road. A tent was pitched nestled next to a tree and a wall,  maybe its more excepted here.
The route would follow the A3, would be a slog up Kingston Hill and a brief stop at a McDonalds for about eleven o clock coffee.
It felt strange walking into London,  it seems so large but so small.  I was fairly pleased being in a built up area,  it was Sunday but full of life. The weather was about 3°C and fairly bright. I wore my Snugpak , so it must be chillier.
I was constantly taking photos on the digi camera, Richmond Park,  Battersea Power Station etc.
We arrived at the Yh around 3. It looked good on the outside but was busy with folk asleep watching tv, a pokey almost child like bunk and a self catering kitchen which had poor facilities and had to wait for plates and forks. We did not eat until gone seven. The shower needed de scaling as it seemed to just spray a mist. Complaints aside it was warm and functional,  we had been spoilt with the run of past hostels.
We had intended on carrying on to the Thames Barrier but as we had already done 18 + miles we knew we would be pushing it,  as it was over 12 miles there and back.
I called Ela and Richard to say we would not get to them until Tuesday eve. All ok.
I had walked to the Surrey Quay supermarket for supplies and we cooked an omelette for tea. Finally got a small speakered radio.
J had been a bit off today due to him not able to use the internet on his phone, he had exceeded his limit and although I was happy to top him up he could not access his account ,we snapped a few times at each other.I was able to increase his bundle but he will have to wait for next month to get it...such is life.We were in bed for 9.
Boots are showing more wear than I would like ,stitching going on right boot.