ficklefancyfree
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Next Camino Ingles Ferrol
Off I pop again, embarking on yet another UK pilgrimage- there are so many to choose from 
I have now started 3, plus a cycling one 
Of course I decided on the hottest day of late summer to start my little journey. Makes complete sense, who doesnāt like to swelter in 30+ degree heat?
Having ran away from a meditation retreat, I had a sleepless night and decided some me time was in order. I made my way to Moorgate first, mistaking it for Monument and got to the church of St Magnus the Martyr 10 mins before mass began. I was ushered in by the greeter at the door where I came upon many a men dressed in full clergy finery.
Uncomfortable as I always am with āThe Instituteā I fumbled my way into asking around for a pilgrim stamp to start my day off. They were terribly nice and wished me on my merry way as I kept apologising for my terrible timing.
I do love me a stamp! Itās official, Iām walking.
Who doesnāt love a walk that starts along a river? I mean thatās half the battle nipped in the bud right there, no need to navigate! The time was 11am and it was blisteringly hot already, and I was walking east, no sunnies, no hat. Tsk, tsk, yes I hadnāt planned this at all well.
The first part of the walk was lovely, I still get surprised at how enjoyable this soon to be painful endeavour is in the moment. First a section on the Thames path, go past the Tower of London (never been) then through the quiet residential streets of Wapping, passing a yacht or two. Iāve been in London all my life and Iāve seen nothing!
I thought this little road took me back to the Thames, alas no, it was a smelly alley way.
The next stage is along many a canals and parks. Regents Canal, Victoria Park, Hertford Union Canal and finally River Lee Navigation. I suddenly got a sense of deja vu, I had done this before but in the opposite direction. It was one of my training walks for Porto to SDC. I wanted to hit 25km but gave up around 17km and treated my sore feet to a bus ride home
Today, I treated myself to a 99 mmmmmm.
I had already determined that I was only going to go as far as Tottenham, that would break an unbelievably long day for me (28.5km) into something like 15/13. Boy was the last bit hard! I kept thinking it must be less than an hour, and that hour took forever! The lock finally came into view at around 3:30.
All in all, a lovely walk, very varied even though I was predominantly along water. I thought it had a little bit of everything. And I actually like pounding concrete, itās predictable and my wobbly ankles prefer it. There was even a section in Wapping that brought back memories of all the cobblestones in Portugal!
Sigh- not sure when the next day is happening but knowing me Iāll be unprepared and just tootle off on a whim.
Total walking time was around 4 hours, total distance around 16km. Pretty standard for me, keeping to my 4km per hour. Total overall time was around 5 hours.
Here are a couple of heavily altered pictures. If you donāt have it, fake it. Until next time
I have now started 3, plus a cycling one Of course I decided on the hottest day of late summer to start my little journey. Makes complete sense, who doesnāt like to swelter in 30+ degree heat?
Having ran away from a meditation retreat, I had a sleepless night and decided some me time was in order. I made my way to Moorgate first, mistaking it for Monument and got to the church of St Magnus the Martyr 10 mins before mass began. I was ushered in by the greeter at the door where I came upon many a men dressed in full clergy finery.
Uncomfortable as I always am with āThe Instituteā I fumbled my way into asking around for a pilgrim stamp to start my day off. They were terribly nice and wished me on my merry way as I kept apologising for my terrible timing.
I do love me a stamp! Itās official, Iām walking.
Who doesnāt love a walk that starts along a river? I mean thatās half the battle nipped in the bud right there, no need to navigate! The time was 11am and it was blisteringly hot already, and I was walking east, no sunnies, no hat. Tsk, tsk, yes I hadnāt planned this at all well.
The first part of the walk was lovely, I still get surprised at how enjoyable this soon to be painful endeavour is in the moment. First a section on the Thames path, go past the Tower of London (never been) then through the quiet residential streets of Wapping, passing a yacht or two. Iāve been in London all my life and Iāve seen nothing!
I thought this little road took me back to the Thames, alas no, it was a smelly alley way.
The next stage is along many a canals and parks. Regents Canal, Victoria Park, Hertford Union Canal and finally River Lee Navigation. I suddenly got a sense of deja vu, I had done this before but in the opposite direction. It was one of my training walks for Porto to SDC. I wanted to hit 25km but gave up around 17km and treated my sore feet to a bus ride home
Today, I treated myself to a 99 mmmmmm.
I had already determined that I was only going to go as far as Tottenham, that would break an unbelievably long day for me (28.5km) into something like 15/13. Boy was the last bit hard! I kept thinking it must be less than an hour, and that hour took forever! The lock finally came into view at around 3:30.
All in all, a lovely walk, very varied even though I was predominantly along water. I thought it had a little bit of everything. And I actually like pounding concrete, itās predictable and my wobbly ankles prefer it. There was even a section in Wapping that brought back memories of all the cobblestones in Portugal!
Sigh- not sure when the next day is happening but knowing me Iāll be unprepared and just tootle off on a whim.
Total walking time was around 4 hours, total distance around 16km. Pretty standard for me, keeping to my 4km per hour. Total overall time was around 5 hours.
Here are a couple of heavily altered pictures. If you donāt have it, fake it. Until next time
ā-
