Thames Path Ramble 22: Saturday 4th June 2016 Richmond to Hammersmith Bridge, which is about 7 miles.

Thames Path Ramble 22: Saturday 4th  June  2016  Richmond to Hammersmith Bridge, which is about 7 miles.

Sue and Jem, John, Dot, Julie, Ann, Peter and Sue, Ian and I have walked this stretch. It was an overcast and muggy day. Plenty of people were out and about, many ‘getting fit’, and much of the route was woody with a country feel, complete with squirrels and parakeets.

We had our packed lunch on a wall near to the National Archives at Kew and also had a nice ice cream stop in Barnes.

It was interesting to pass the entrance to Grand Union Canal at Brentford at a different angle from when we walked its towpath last year.

The Ship PH, Mortlake is most famous for its location on the finishing line of the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race and to the rear of the Budweiser Brewery. It was here that we watched and met with a group of rowers from Richmond. They were taking out ‘Foxy’, a newly built cutter, for the first time and had started at Deptford earlier. Now stopping for a quick drink, they then wanted to catch the high tide back to Richmond.

In places we needed to paddle through high water, but generally walking was very easy (and most cyclists and runners were considerate).

We finished at Hammersmith suspension Bridge, all green and gold.  It is the half way mark of the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race and obviously a very busy road crossing. We walked into Hammersmith centre, had a meal and started our return journey home on number 10 bus to St Pancras/King’s Cross. This took us a while but was great seeing so many familiar London sights.