Hello everyone, I began the walk on Wednesday,30th of April, it was the hottest day of the year. I travelled from Oxford to Paddington, on to the Elizabeth line and got off  at Woolwich and walked to the Woolwich footbridge. 

  


I am not at all familiar with this part of London and was impressed with the space, the signing for Thames Path and just how clean, litter free and how well maintained the whole of the area right the way through to the Thames Barrier.

 



From the Thames Barrier I made my way to the O2 Arena but did not manage to get a good picture of it, worried also I would run out of battery before getting home. Seeing 02 Arena reminded me of all the gigs Elizabeth managed to get ‘door passes’ for me to see her playing her saxophone for all different pop groups. One I remember at the Camden Garage a punk group absolutely packed. Often found myself at the Jericho Tavern in Oxford, notably the early days of Primal Scream. Elizabeth managed to get me into the last concert of a Bruce Springsteen tour. I earned a lot of street cred from my students during this time. Elizabeth played at Ronnie Scott’s with Ronnie Scott and often made an appearance with Jules Holland on his Saturday evening TV show. It was about this time that Elizabeth met Paul. They married and had a daughter, Eve who was then the total focal point of Elizabeth’s life.

Onto the Cutty Sark, I remembered Elizabeth waiting at the Cutty Sark to wave on her brother Adrian and myself as he ran the London Marathon and I staggered round.

The Walk from the Cutty Sark through various diversions leading on to London Bridge another 5 miles away. I was pretty hot by this time but knew that I would complete this section of the walk.  I walked on towards London Bridge but was unable to take more photos because of losing battery power.     

      

 


                                                                                          

I will take a picture of Tower Bridge as I begin the second phase of my walk. This will be from Tower Bridge to Putney Bridge all along the Thames Embankment, past the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. Putney Bridge is of course famed for the beginning of the annual Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Hoping that it will not be quite as hot. When I complete this section I would have walked 20 miles. Only another 165 to the Source of the Thames. 

  

 I intend to walk on Friday 9th of May at 11am starting at London Bridge and hope to reach Putney Bridge by 5pm.                                                                                                           

 I would welcome anyone who would like to join me to do so, I will be obvious wearing the MND Walk to D'feet MND blue and orange T shirt. I think this section is also wheelchair friendly and accessible. 

Thank you for reading my blog I welcome any advice, suggestions etc.     

 Maureen.                                                                                                                                             

Please if you can donate on my Just Giving page toward raising funds for MND, 

I would be very grateful -  https://www.justgiving.com/page/maureen-sears-1                                   











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