Blog No 3.

Hi everyone, I managed to walk from London Bridge to Putney last Friday. I learnt a few lessons along the way which I will tell you about later. 

 

First of all it was a sunny day with a cool breeze so not as hot as the first week. What is more important is that I had company. Elizabeth's close friends Dominic and Juli joined me at the Golden Hinde and we walked together to the Covid Memorial Wall just past Westminster Bridge. More of this later.

My skills of photography are sadly lacking and so Tower Bridge still does not feature particularly well in my collection. Fortunately Juli took pictures for the part of the walk accompanying me. 

We passed the Globe Theatre, where Dominic and Elizabeth saw Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World 2018. 

 

 I remember Elizabeth saying we should go and see a Shakespeare production but we did not get around to doing it.

Looking across the river Dominic pointed out St Brides Church which has a tiered tower and belfry. Dominic explained that this was the inspiration for tiered wedding cakes, something I would never have thought of. 

 We then passed the Tate Modern, and I thought of the little boy who was thrown off the balcony by a mentally ill person and that he is having to come to terms with life changing injuries .On we walked to the South Bank which was crowded and then the Concert Hall where I took both Elizabeth and Adrian one Christmas to see the Nutcracker Suite, Elizabeth loved it, Adrian fell asleep. 

Then of course the London Eye and the long queues to get onto it. Elizabeth went on the London Eye with Adrian's father in law who was over from San Francisco, he loved it but spent the time patting Elizabeth's shoulder as she was crouched on the floor. 

Then of course on and under Waterloo Bridge, the Charing Cross Footbridge, and then in it's full splendour Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. 

Soon after this we came to the Covid Memorial Wall, I remember when Covid first hit the UK a medical professional said that if the government did not act quickly then 20000 people were likely to die. In fact 248303 people have died with Covid named on their death certificate and still the red hearts are being painted on the wall. Walking the length of the wall really brings home the awful reality affecting the lives of so many people. 

At this point Dominic and Juli said their goodbyes and headed for home. It was such a pleasure walking with them. I then walked on counting the  bridges as I went. The Albert Bridge at Chelsea is spectacular I did manage to take a picture. Then the pictorial evidence was rather slim as I found a pace which felt good and if I stopped it would be broken. 

My next stop was Battersea Power Station and a detour from the river to go around it. It is amazing what they have made of the space and the area. I stopped for a hot chocolate at Pret a Manger. Then continuing on through parks on my left, which were fenced. But then a patch of unfenced grass which had about six tents on it. It caught my attention and I saw a stand which I thought was selling fruit and goodies. Looking at the posters it was an organisation expressing the plight of the people of Palestine,  The tents were for homeless people who could use them for the night. The purpose was to demonstrate what it was like to be made homeless in a war torn environment. The goods on the table were not for sale they were being given to people who came to ask questions and were interested in their message. I know this was a cause Elizabeth felt deeply about and how she would have been with this group of people to show support. 

I walked on counting the bridges as I went but did not stop to take photographs. This was a mistake because if I had stopped I would have realised that I was also thirsty. I wanted to make Wandsworth Bridge before sitting down, this I almost did, I could see Wandsworth Bridge. As I sitting a man passed me and then returned and sat beside me. He asked me if I was alright to which I replied yes I was. He asked if I had water, this was in my backpack. He then did the strangest thing, he took my pulse and said that he would not leave me until he had seen that I had drank half the bottle. He then left me and made me promise I would continue to drink. I sat for a good half hour after he had gone and then continued on my way. I am afraid photographs fizzled out long before this point. 

I saw Putney bridge but again did not take a photo, but headed for the road where I could get a bus to the nearest tube to get me to Paddington. This was quite a performance in itself. I asked the driver if he went to Putney Tube but said no, he went to Roehampton and suggested that I take the bus in the other direction and head for Victoria. Not thinking straight this is what I did and then found I had several tube changes to get to Paddington.

The interesting thing about this part of my journey was how kind and thoughtful people are. You may think they are engrossed in their phones but they are aware of what is around them. On the bus and each of the tube journeys passengers jumped up to offer me a seat. It was rush hour on a Friday, they must have been tired too. 

I also learnt the lesson of listening to my body. In future stretches of my walk I will stop every hour and drink and take time to take photos as well. I have also thought that perhaps ten miles a stretch in the heat may be beyond my physical capacity. I am rescheduling the lengths of my walk to a maximum of 8 miles a day. Another decision I have made is to not wear rough terrain walking boots, too heavy and not suitable for tarmac or paved paths. 

I am looking forward to the next walk which will be from Putney Bridge to Dukes Meadow or possibly Kew Bridge. Easy places to access transport back to Paddington. What is more important about this part of the walk is the fact it is close to where Elizabeth lived for 26 years and so the places will hold special memories. I am hoping that some of Elizabeth's other friends will join and possibly I will see my granddaughter as well.

I hope you have found my commentary interesting, particularly the lessons learned about long distance (for me) walking. Please respond if you so wish.

My next walk along the Thames Path will be on the Saturday 24th May and I will be going from Putney Bridge to Dukes Meadow. I will alert people of the start time when other arrangements are completed. 

I wish to thank all anonymous donations to the Just Giving Page and also to David and Steve, unknown to me but have been most generous.

Thank you

Maureen