London Loop Segment 7, Part 1 (Sat.)
One of the keys to getting the most out of a short vacation is to keep on doing things until the last day. Since the main goal of this visit was to walk the Loop and Ring, that is what we did with our final two days. Both walks began on the Thames, now heading on to the north side of the river. Our Loop segment began at Kingston Bridge and continued on to Hatton Cross station near Heathrow. We were not carrying out the full walk, however, leaving the 2nd part of it until our next visit (Nov. 2018?).
Most of our walk today was within the boundaries of Brushy Park, an 1100 acre expanse that just goes on and on. The entrance is near the north end of the Kingston bridge. It is adjacent to the equally large Home Park, and not far from Richmond Park and Kew. No one has any real idea of how vast London's green spaces are until they undertake these walks around the city.
Loop Segment 7 crosses Brushy Park, 1100 acres of public open space. We entered from the 3 o'clock position, at Church Grove Gate (scroll right). We made our way in between Leg of Mutton Pond and Heron Pond, then passed Boating Pond, where a beautiful tall ship model was gracefully sailing the water (as was a little obnoxious speedboat). We headed to the cafe in the center of the park (Pheasantry Welcome Center). We eventually exited at Laurel Road Gate in the top left corner, after exploring Woodland Gardens, then headed to Fulwell Station.
The Pheasantry Welcome Center is just off the 3 o'clock position on this map. This was a very intense garden and woodland area, almost too beautiful to believe.
Deb stands on a small bridge between "You are here" on map above, and Silver Birch Glade.
It seemed as if everything was in bloom!
The heron seemed quite at home in the garden ponds.
We returned to our hotel in Croydon from Fulwell Station via Clapham Junction. We rested, then headed out for a pub crawl east of our train station. (see the pub section for details). We met up with Caroline and ate at a new Croydon veg restaurant. It was our third meet-up with Caroline, and would be the last of this journey. After dinner we sat in the hotel lobby, sharing a bottle of Sam Smith's Organic Cherry Beer!
Capital Ring Segment 7 (Sun.)
This walk covered some ground previously visited in 2005, but we came at things from a different angle (and perspective). It begins in Richmond near the White Cross pub (a favourite of mine --see the pub page) and carries on to Osterley Lock on the Grand Union Canal, near Boston Manor station. We crossed the Thames on a footbridge over a weir and lock, then continued on into Syon Park. We stopped at the cafe and garden center before carrying on to the canal, which the walk follows from here. The canal originates here (Brentford), and goes on as far as Birmingham! It is still fully functional, and seems to be well used. Being a Sunday the towpath (and Syon Park) was busy. A weekday walk would have been much quieter.
There is a very fancy historic footbridge over a weir and lock just downstream from Richmond.
Crossing the footbridge over the Thames, looking downriver.
This is the only photo of me from this journey! I'm the one with the red hat.
Low tide between Isleworth (right) and Eel Pie Island, now a nature preserve.
Another big old park, this one with a "house" that can be visited. Another time for sure! We entered from the bottom (Old Isleworth) and exited at the top, towards Brentford. We stopped at the cafe and garden center (5, 6, and 10 on map).
Syon House, London
Brentford Lock and lock keeper's house. Grand Union Canal, near its beginning in Brentford.
Clitherow Lock, in use. The feeling back here was that of being far from London, out in the countryside, and in a bygone era.
Footbridge over the canal. We crossed from the left side to the right.
Canal boat and bridge carrying the Piccadilly Line over the canal.
Being a Sunday we had some difficulty with the District Line, as we went in search of a pub in Turnham Green (see pub page). Then we headed back to Croydon for coffee, a pub stop, a rest, some dinner, and some packing. We were leaving early in the morning for Gatwick.
The trip had been a huge success, and we had even exceeded our walking goals by undertaking this final segment of the Ring. We had rain days scheduled in, but we didn't need them. The weather (except Wed.) had been dry, though cool. It was perfect for walking. We managed to see Caroline three times, and to meet up with Rachael. We'd visited a restored palace, and a ruined castle. We discovered three new (for us) veg restaurants, and the Toby chain, which is very vegan friendly.
We are likely heading to Vienna in the autumn, then back to New Mexico desert lands next March. We have no definite plans at the moment for returning to London, but we hope it will be sooner rather than later.
...to be continued.
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