City escape.

Last week was a long week. Ridiculously long. Work was incredibly hectic, the daily commute took twice as long, and the thought of coming home and making dinner or exercising seemed like an insurmountable task to both of us. I sound like a whiner...and I am, I guess...but it was just one of those weeks, you know?  We needed a break.

I love London and everything that it has to offer, but once in a while, it is good to get out of the big city and head to greener, quieter pastures. At the end of the District line (well, one of the ends) is the London borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is only a couple of tube transfers away, but it feels like a lot father than that once you're there. It still has a city feel, with a fair spread of restaurants, shopping, and local watering holes...just kind of like London with the volume turned down. Our little Schulte trio went for the 2,500 acre park.

Richmond Park was originally enclosed  in 1637 by King Charles I and was designated a National Nature Reserve in 2000. It is an absolutely beautiful area that we only saw a fraction of. We walked to the center of it, where there are a couple of small lakes, and back out again. That took us three hours....

Ready...go!

We listened and went this way.

Not today, dude. Tube riders would not appreciate wet dog.

So mature.

Free roaming!

Can you spot the creep?

We got back into Richmond and made our way across the top of the hill just as the sun made it's first appearance of the day. 

We grabbed a pint and caught the tail end of a cricket match.

After the walk and the train ride back to London, our stomachs were screaming at us. So, as usual, we made way too much food...and then ate all of it. Dinner consisted of tomato gazpacho with chili prawns, salmon with lemony summer vegetables, and a no-bake blueberry and lemon cheesecake. 

That's right...no-bake. Easiest summer dessert of all time. 

I really can't wait to go back to Richmond for another escape from the big city.