As we are getting pressed for time because we are walking shorter distances than expected, we skipped the Windsor to Saines section (about 12 km). Instead, we taxied over to Staines and started from there.
We had our first day of rain and drizzle, and even some sunshine where it continued to rain. Go figure. But after months of drought here, the rain is welcome.
Last day of walking with packs as we are basing ourselves out of London (Hammersmith) for the rest of our time. And will travel back and forth daily.
The Queen’s Walk in Windsor. Ken had to have his morning coffee.How does McDonald’s actually believe they can be zero waste? As Scouts we often do roadside cleanup – we see a lot of McDonald’s “zero waste”. Not that it is McDonald’s fault that people litter. Peter took this photo. We’ve seen a few homeless people now who set up their spaces with little items. Some seem to try to sell them but others just seem to collect them. They also just leave their spaces untended. It’s sad. I don’t know what the solution is. Ken was freaked out by the big teeth in the upper windows. I thought this was a heron but now I realize it’s a kingfisher. I have yet to glimpse one on this trip. The London Stone (well, a replica). Richard 1 aka the Lion Heart needed money for the Crusades, so he sold the rights to the Thames to the City of London. This stone marks the boundary of where the City has the rights to. I think this is more swans? No idea who this is. But this is Ken. I suspect this building was once associated with the church, as there is an empty niche where a religious statue would fit nicely. Egyptian geese. I have never seen shiny completely black ducks before. AN MGB, about late 1960s. Apparently a sweetheart of a car.The tiny little sign above the “Respect squirrels” sign is anti-boat. Good luck with that campaign.Perhaps one of the original cabins before the tich people moved in? Why would anyone think this is fun? Says the person who seems to think endless walking is also fun.Trailer park. Somewhat unexpected.A fried haloumi burger. Yum. That’s quite the fishing net.What is fly grazing and why is it not permitted? More permanent house boat. First there was one. Terry catering to the moochers just like she does back home with deer. And as with the deer, first there was one, then the word spread and soon there was a crowd.Then there were twenty. The Thames path continues on the other side of the river. There is no bridge so you have to take a small pedestrian ferry. Time for ice cream! Lots of cool things in this place. Minor glitch with the signs to the train station so we had to walk along the “grinder” for a while. Thankfully there was a cycling lane. Maybe 1st Lac La Biche Scouts should attach a plaque to the post office, where we met for years…except it would say 1992.This was Sue. We both missed the train at the last minute so we got chatting. She was really helpful in giving us directions on the nest way to get to Hammersmith – train to Wimbledon (no tennis happening), switch to District line tube, get off at Earl’s Court and switch to Piccadilly line, then 2 stops and you’re there. She even tested us to make sure. She was very chatty, likes walking and boat trips, gave us suggestions for plays to see (The Mouse Trap has been playing for more than 70 years), and would have gone to Earl’s Court with us on the tube but the bus drops her closer to home. One benefit of walking are these special moments when you connect with a local.Ok. We didn’t actually walk 31.14 km (although we did walk 32 km in a day once on the Camino in Spain). I forgot to turn off MapMyWalk. We walked 10.69 km on the trail plus 2.5 extra to the train station.
