The Christmas BOC retirees walk has come around once again and Jon had worked out a route from the Olympic park down to Islington then to St. Pauls and back to Waterloo. We would all meet at Waterloo (10:30) or else at Stratford tube station beside the rusty steam engine.
I found a very convenient train from Witley that got in to Waterloo just before the meeting time and was on a cheap day return, so did not enforce a return train time.
At Waterloo I met up with the others - there would be 26 of us on this walk, with 22 of us starting here. We all dropped down to the Jubilee line and crowded onto the first train (well almost all got on, as some had to catch the next train and meet up at Stratford).
More confusion at the terminus as there were several exits and we needed one of the shopping centre. Even then 2 people missed the meeting point and we caught up with them later at the stadium.
We started down through the shopping centre and off towards the QE Olympic park.
Leaving the shopping complex towards the West Ham stadium, with views to the ArcelorMittal tower.
Around the top of the stadium and across to Old Ford Lock. Then continuing onto Old Ford Island.
Over to the East Cross route (first crossing the Green way - a route on top of the old Victorian sewers), then down to Hertford Union Canal
Along the canal to the Hertford union top lock No.1
Into Victoria park crossing over past the old English garden.
Across to Well Street common, diagonally across to St John of Jerusalem church
In the trees here were flocks of Green Parakeets - the picture does not really work.
Through the backstreets of Hackney to get to London fields - another green space. at the end were some sculptures - The flower Sellers.
Through Broadway market to reach Regents canal. Turning along the tow path at Actons lock #7
Along the canal past the moored up barges to the Sharks sculpture. Still on the towpath passing Kingsland basin.
Into a section of converted warehouses into flats and up to Sturts lock.
Wenlock basin and city road lock
City road basin, and then the tunnel at Islington - the towpath stops here, so we took to the streets.
Across the roads to St Marks, Clerkenwell, with Sadlers wells below us.
Down tot he Exmouth Arms for lunch - we had an upstairs function room, but with our numbers it did mean a 2 hour lunch.
When we eventually came out it was starting to get dark, and the lights were on. By now 2 people had left and sme more headed off to the bus.
We worked through the back streets to St James church, Clerkenwell.
however Jon felt a little light headed here and we had to call a cab to get him back to Waterloo (with escort). The cab met us opposite the sessions house on Clerkenwell green.
Slightly lighter in numbers we dropped down to Farringdon tube station and lost some more.
On to Smithfields market - all lit up.
Straight through and down past St. Barts hospital.
Arriving at St Paul's cathedral
Continuing down to the Thames and the millennium bridge.
Over the bridge with the south bank all lit up. To one side the shard and along to the Tate Modern.
The Shard had Christmas lights (as well as the white ones) and back to St. Pauls
Along the Thames path to Waterloo bridge. Turning to the station past the National Theatre.
At Waterloo I had just missed a train, and to avoid a long wait I caught a train to Woking, then Guildford and finally Witley. I think if I went again I would use Hazelmere of Godalming.
Finally getting home at 7pm - a long day.
