Thames Path Ramble 25: Saturday 27th August 2016 Canary Wharf to Thames Barrier, which is about 7 miles.

Thames Path Ramble 25: Saturday 27th August 2016  Canary Wharf to Thames Barrier, which is about 7 miles.

Gervais, Sue and Jem, Margaret B., John, Jane, Dot, Julie, Ann, Peter and Sue, Ian and I walked this stretch on 27^th August when the weather was good for us; warm and just a few drops of rain (for others in the Midlands there were heavy thunderstorms).

After a visit to Surrey Docks Farm caff we set off on our last walk in this series. All along here are new housing projects (Pepys Estate) where once there had been a large Royal Naval dockyard. Much was new, but Rum House, part of the old victualling yard, still stands and has been converted into apartments. It was near here that Sir Francis Drake was knighted. Also, as we diverted away from the river around Convoy’s Wharf (a large area, once owned by News International, awaiting planning permission for development) some of us proved that they are still youthful at the playground! Sayes Court Park, with its mulberry tree, is near where Tsar Peter the Great stayed, incognito, for 3 months in 1698 and there is a large statue commemorating this. Apparently he wasn’t the best guest!

We stopped for lunch by the Cutty Sark, one of the last and fastest tall tea clippers built (in 1869). Restoration work was being carried out when a fire broke out in 2007 but now all looks completed and she stands high.

After Greenwich Pier there is a lovely view of the Old Naval College, Greenwich. Also, nearby is a nice statue of Nelson by Trafalgar Tavern.

Another interesting site was that of Greenwich Power Station, large and dark, dominating the white and small Trinity Hospital. Apparently, the power station is still operational and due an upgrade and the hospital has been almshouses since 1617.

We, again, had to divert away from the riverside, due to path closures. This meant going alongside the busy dual carriageway leading to the Blackwall Tunnel. It is mostly industrial around here, with giant piles of sand etc. and we kept seeing Canary Wharf! We ended up walking most of the way around the O2 and watched as a group walked across the top!

 The Emirates Cable Car that crosses the river here, came into view and Quantum Cloud, a giant ball of metal rods by Anthony Gormley sits under on the Greenwich side.  It was from near here that we first saw the Thames Barrier, the end (or beginning) of the Thames Path. We were soon there and the sun shone on those massive ‘hoods’. We took pictures, visited the café, admired the views and reflected on our journey to get there.

    The nine of us who have completed the whole Thames Path (184 miles)

Thames Path Ramble 24: Saturday 30th July 2016 Vauxhall to Canary Wharf, which is about 6 ½ miles.

Thames Path Ramble 24: Saturday 30th  July  2016  Vauxhall to Canary Wharf, which is about 6 ½ miles.

Sue and Jem, Janet, John, Julie, Jane, Dot, Ann, Gervais, Peter and Sue, Ian and I have walked this part of the Thames, packed full of interesting sights, many of which are so familiar. The Houses of Parliament, followed by the London Eye was a good start. As a warm, sunny July day many people had thronged the riverside and we became part of the crowds enjoying entertainers such as Charlie Chaplin and rides on the Merry–Go-Round (as well as ice-creams).

Just looking at the ever-changing, spectacular skyline (with names like cheese-grater, walkie-talkie and gherkin) and watching the river traffic was thrilling. Tour boats of all sizes were out, as well as river buses, and the smaller inflatable ribs were giving punters thrills by weaving over the white water wakes of other boats.

We saw a busker playing a flaming tuba, a bright pink double decker bus and other unusual vehicles, a man-made beach with deckchairs and sand and many other unexpected scenes. Once past Tower Bridge things quietened down and Limehouse and Rotherhithe were comparatively calm. The interesting and poignant history of the Salter family, who did so much to help the poor, was related in Bermondsey with boards and statues. There is a connection with Northamptonshire in that Ada was born in Raunds.

We noticed the round brick buildings either side of the river – ventilation shafts and the original pedestrian access for the Rotherhithe road tunnel, Also, the Brunel Museum, in the engine rooms connected to the Thames Tunnel, looked like another interesting place to explore another time.

We finished our walk, as so often, in the café. This time, a little different, as it was in a Surrey Docks Farm, so donkeys, ducks and goats were just outside.

Salter's cat

Thames Path Ramble 23: Saturday 2nd July 2016 Hammersmith to Vauxhall Bridge, which is about 8 miles.

Thames Path Ramble 23: Saturday 2nd  July  2016  Hammersmith  to Vauxhall Bridge, which is about 8 miles.

Sue and Jem, John, Dot, Julie, Ann, Peter and Sue walked this part and Ian and I walked it a week later.

This was the ice-cream walk – it was sunny and warm and we passed so many ice-cream vans! From Hammersmith Bridge we first passed a large blocks of luxury flats, once Harrod’s Furniture depository store (they don’t build warehouses like this anymore). We couldn’t see much of the London Wetland Centre that was nearby but behind fences and scrub. We did spot Fulham’s Craven Cottage football ground on the opposite bank. After Putney Bridge we found shade in Wandsworth Park and saw some huge houseboats moored nearby. Then, after Wandsworth Bridge, we spotted helicopters landing at the busy London heliport. This juts out over the Thames and they are noisy.

The pink painted Albert Bridge is next still with its sign for troops from the nearby Chelsea Barracks to break step when crossing (it had problems similar to that of the wobbly bridge once upon a time). Then it was a walk through Battersea Park with a Children’s zoo, Peace Pagoda and on 2^nd July the Formula E racing cars.

 The Thames Path diverts away from the river to go around the disused Battersea power station. After many years of dereliction, is being redeveloped into, you’ve got it, flats. Part of that project means demolishing the iconic and crumbling towers and rebuilding them. It was around here that we noticed a 1600 year old tree stump that no one was going to steal! Heading towards Vauxhall, is Nine Elms Riverside development, with blocks of flats resembling cruise ships, and the new American embassy, due to be completed this year. At the end of this walk the skyline was definitely high rise.