On another hot day, nine members met at Mill Hill East station for a circular walk of just over five miles in the London Borough of Barnet. After a stop at a nearby Waitrose for use of their facilities, we headed along a suburban road to the thirteen arch Northern Line viaduct, the highest point above ground level on the London Underground network. As it towered above us, we joined the Dollis Brook trail for a pleasant shaded walk through woodland. Soon we branched off left through a golf course for a stretch of road walking. After a small altercation with a driver who appeared to be unaware of pedestrian priority at a turning, we reached an enclosed track with horses greeting us in an adjacent field. This took us in due course to Totteridge Green with its delightful duck pond. On another hot day, nine members met at Mill Hill East station for a circular walk of just over five miles in the London Borough of Barnet. After a stop at a nearby Waitrose for use of their facilities, we headed along a suburban road to the thirteen arch Northern Line viaduct, the highest point above ground level on the London Underground network. As it towered above us, we joined the Dollis Brook trail for a pleasant shaded walk through woodland. Soon we branched off left through a golf course for a stretch of road walking. After a small altercation with a driver who appeared to be unaware of pedestrian priority at a turning, we reached an enclosed track with horses greeting us in an adjacent field. This took us in due course to Totteridge Green with its delightful duck pond.
Like my Easter Monday walk, the weather came up trumps, this time with a record May temperature. Despite the predicted hot weather, thirteen members started off from Alton Station for a five mile walk in the Hampshire countryside.
Although still in April, the weather was sunny and warm for our Erith to Bexley walk, and I really appreciated Tizi’s kind offer of a sunhat to wear. After a little hiccup, we made it from the station to the path by the Thames, and started off on our waterside walk. The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was often in view on this section. Firstly, we walked by the Thames, then by the River Darent, and finally the Cray, with its field of reeds.
Partway along the Cray we came across the sailing barge, Decima (built 1899). The well-known sailing barge restorer and shipwright Tim Goldsack, bought Decima in 2003 and completed a major restoration.
It was mostly easy, level walking- firm paths and tracks, starting at Mile End tube station and then walking down to Canary Wharf. It was mostly in parks along the way and included a walk along the Thames, down into the Isle of dogs and through Mudchute Park. There we stopped for lunch before continuing to Canary Wharf and a nearby Weatherspoons pub.
We walked from the tulip garden near embankment station through Westminster and watched the changing of the guard at Bukingham Palace before proceeding via Hyde Park, where we had lunch and on to Kensington Gardens and Holland Park where we finished up at the Castle pub.
