A Wee Walk Along The River Thames Turn Into A Marathon

Yesterday, which was Sunday and for me this is a day of total rest and relaxation. A day when I don’t think about or even contemplate work. I use Sundays as a chance to recharge my batteries and to enjoy what London has to offer. Even though I’m now a citizen of London, I still see myself as being a tourist.

My brainwave yesterday was to go for walk along the River Thames, it was a beautiful afternoon and a perfect day for a wee stroll. A quick check on the TFL site told me that the nearest station to the Thames that I could get to from my house was Embankment. So that’s where my walk would begin. My plan was, well I never had one. I would just walk along the Thames and enjoy the atmosphere and the buzz of it all.

I made sure I had all the supplies I needed for a long walk, a bottle of water, an energy drink and 3 Mars Bars, what more could I need apart from, of course my fully charged camera.

As soon as I  come out of Embankment station the place was heaving with masses of tourists from all over the world. I headed to Hungerford Bridge, which is a stones throw from the tube station. The Hungerford Bridge was originally named after the Hungerford market, which use to be on the North Bank and it is the only river crossing in London to combine both foot and rail traffic.

The views from Hungerford Bridge along the River Thames  are something else and I can imagine the night time view from here, with London all lit up would be quite spectacular. I shall have to return an evening to have a wee look for myself.

All I had to do now was the make the mind boggling decision as to, which way I would start walking. After about 5 seconds of deliberating I decided I would head towards Westminster and then take a wee detour to Number 10 Downing Street to see if I could have wee word with that prat of  a  PM Gordon Brown.

The South Bank of the Thames River was buzzing as usual with a variety of street performers doing their thing to earn a few bog. Some of them are quite talented and are very much worth watching. To say the South Bank was busy would be an understatement. I truly find it amazing that people can be bothered to join those huge queues to go for a ride on the London Eye, what a waste of a beautiful afternoon.

I don’t know how long I had been walking for, or how many miles I had walked, in fact I hadn’t a clue as to where I was. What I did know is that my legs were tired, my feet were hurting and I was out of supplies. I know I passed a few bridges, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, Albert Bridge, Battersea Bridge and by the time I reached Wandsworth Bridge I had enough of walking, the fun of it all had suddenly disappeared.

Eventually via a bus and a tube journey I made it to Notting Hill for a pre arranged rendezvous and I was early, which was a miracle. But thanks to all those tube line closures they do every weekend, it can be a bit of pain getting anywhere on time.

If ever I needed and deserved couple of pints of Heineken lager and a bite to eat, it was then. All I can say is that  I was well and truly knackered and glad to be resting.  I sure aint as fit as I use to be, but i will be eventually if I live to tell the tale!

A wee stroll along the River Thames is great way to spend a few hours, but in my case and on this particular occasion I over did things. However, will I do it again, most certainly and probably in the near future. The next time I shall walk in the opposite direction, but perhaps I wont walk so far next time and I will start off with some idea as to where I’m heading too.

 

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