TP1
Thames Path - Walk 1
WEDNESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2016:Think of the Thames and I think of London…iconic city, metropolis….but it is so much more than that. The complete Thames runs through the heart of England, from green fields to sprawling city and beyond, the accompanying National Path a 180 mile picture postcard (or should that now be Instagram) of the heart of England – who could resist that?
Of course the perfect way to experience is to walk from source to sea….maybe some day. But for now I have the more pragmatic approach of walking a few bits as and when I can, maybe a half day or day here and there when in London, exploring some of the sights around the river
With that very vague concept I find myself at the Thames Barrier on a cold, but sunny, February morning, with a few hours to kill…the others in the family taking the opportunity to walk around other places…shops!
The Thames Barrier is functional, it has helped stop London from flooding since 1982, but it is so much more. Undoubtably an engineering marvel, but also a work of art. There is just something about it that I find fantastical, certainly this morning it is in full glory, it’s 9 gleaming silver piers offset against the crisp, blue sky
From the sign marking the start of the Path I head West, the O2 Arena, soon taking form, another striking design statement that I appreciate. Thankfully, the ‘millennium dome’ turned out ok, now a great success and home to some good times
Across the river Canary Wharf dominates, the steel & glass temple to the modern day financial city that today drives London
I move on but incur a significant diversion and end up slightly lost, emerging in a busy area around Blackwall Tunnell but eventually manage to work my way back to the river, probably not missing too much of what is a generally industrial area
Next up is Grenwich, a fascinating area. A previous visit in 2012 allowed me to enjoy the true delights of the Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian (the line of zero degrees Longitude), the National Maritime museum and Cutty Sark, so I do not detour today but do reminisce to some extent. Must come back and do that all again!
The walk settles into a rhythm of meandering around small inlets and locks, passing by docks and wharfs which would have once been the bustling heart of the trading river, now mostly residential apartments and just a reminder of past times
Soon enough I see the famous ‘skyscraper’ landmarks appear on the horizon….the Shard on the South bank, the Gherkin, Walkie Talkie, Cheesegrater etc on the North bank (Note: this is 2016, lots of change to follow!). These landmarks hijack the scene from afar but close up are outdone by an older monument – the famous Tower Bridge, another structure where design makes something of function into a thing of beauty. Something to see more of next time maybe
That completes my time available. All in all, a fine walk, only about 11 miles but always something going on and in many ways a small range of history, showing the remnants from the old industrial and commercial trading hub to the current financial district
