Well, there’s absolutely no need to rush a good thing, and I don’t think we can be accused of rushing our completion of the Thames Path.
It all started with a trip to the Thames Barrier in 2007, but it was a few years before we attempted the next leg through Greenwich to Richmond. In 2012 we got as far as Windsor, but it was 2016 before we got as far as Marlow. In the next 3 years we managed to tick the miles off as far as Oxford, but then Covid struck and the last 50 miles had to be put on hold for a bit.
At the end of 2022, we bagged another 20 miles, which left a tantalizingly doable 30 miles to reach our ultimate goal: The Source!
Naturally, having taken so long to do the first 150 miles, not everyone who had been on that very first leg had made it on all the subsequent legs. On our Cirencester trip we had just 5 potential “completers”, although several others were only missing a stage or two. We divided the remaining 30 miles over 3 days, which involved a bit of to-and-fro logistics from our base in The Barrel Store. I don’t think anyone would contradict me in saying that pubs were a major feature of our long weekend. A couple of very nice ones in Cirencester again, then several conveniently punctuating our walks on the three days. In fact, one of the most hazardous moments on the walk was a Bambi-on-Ice moment in a freshly mopped ladies loo in The Trout at Tadpole Bridge.
The upper reaches of the Thames were easily the most scenic of the whole walk and it was interesting to see the once mighty river gradually dwindle to a lovely little chalk stream. The last bit of water to be seen was at Lyd Well, roughly a mile south of the official source at Thames Head. The last hazard to negotiate was hay harvesting in the very field of the source, but dusty and sneezing we managed to stumble our way to the marker stone – the culmination of 13 years of effort!
Ali
The Wilderness in the Estuary
All these years I’ve lived in Essex and I’d never been to Northey Island – site of Britain’s oldest battle when Byrhtnoth decided to give the Vikings a fighting chance. To get to it you have to cross a suitably impressive causeway only accessible for 2 hours either side of low tide.
Not currently inhabited, previous owners included the Nobel prizewinner, Norman Angell, and there was a commemorative blue plaque on the house. It might lack the glamour of nearby wedding venue, Osea Island, but I bet Olly Murs didn’t have the fun of a sea wall picnic followed by icecream on the prom. A fantastic walk led confidently by Chris without losing anyone to the waves.
Ali
Louise Geddes
Sadly, Louise passed away on 21st July, finally losing her long battle with cancer. She’s been a member of the group for almost 20 years, and we will miss her greatly. She was particularly enthusiastic about our cycling weekends, and we have many happy memories of rides between the hostels and tearooms of Norfolk. Only a few months ago, she joined us at Palace Farm hostel for some lovely walks in the North Kent Downs. She was always cheerful, kind, and considerate, and the positive way she dealt with her illness was an inspiration to us all.