Day 31 – Sunday 10 December 2000 - Becontree to Greenwich

11.5 miles walked today

401.5 miles walked in total (average 12.95)

I left Portsmouth at 6.30 am and reached Sam’s in Epsom just before 8.00 am.  After quickly unloading the Christmas presents from my car, Sam and I dashed up to the station to catch the train.  Unfortunately, the trains weren’t running!  So we had a coach trip instead to meet the train up to Waterloo.  We finally got to Barking at 10.30 am to start walking.  The weather was rubbish.  And most of the day was spent trying to convince each other that “it’s getting brighter” – how wrong can someone be?!

We started walking from Becontree through the housing estate I only got halfway through the last time I walked.  I was hoping for some seriously tacky Christmas decoration photo opportunities, but was hugely disappointed.  People in Essex have more taste than I credit them for.  I’ve been watching too many sitcoms.

The rain came down for most of the morning and Sam and I got very wet.  Then the rain stopped and the blustery wind dried us off.  And then it rained and we got very wet.  And then the rain stopped and the blustery wind dried us off again.  You get the picture …

Past the Woolwich ferry and foot tunnel across the Thames (which appeared to be flooded), the walking was quite grim – through lots of industrial estates.  There was an amazing smell of caramelised sugar as we walked past the art deco Tate and Lyle buildings, one of which had a lion on the side of the building and the inscription “out of the strong, came forth sweetness”.

There were some huge puddles in the middle of the roads and most drivers were quite considerate about driving around the edge of them and not drowning us.  However, one lorry came down at such a dash that we knew we would be soaked.  Sam and I stood with our backs to the road and waited for it, and waited, and waited … until we looked round to see a tidal wave come at us in slow motion!  How we laughed …!

Apparently, according to Sam, on a clear day with some glasses, we could have seen to Hackney marshes, if it wasn’t for the houses inbetween.

Actually, I spent most of the day in a state of high excitement – I knew we were going to cross the river and that’s been such a huge milestone for me for ages.  We saw some fabulously well known sights too – which kept us going.  The Thames Barrier, the Millennium Dome, Canary Wharf, the Greenwich Royal Observatory and Old Royal Naval College, the Cutty Sark, Woolwich Ferry, Beckton dry ski slope.  (That last one is a joke by the way.)

The weather cheered up immensely, although it was still very windy, and we were very pleased to finally get to the foot tunnel across to Greenwich.  How the hell did anyone get a Christmas tree on top of the Cutty Sark?

It was an excellent day, despite the weather, and we certainly laughed loads.  I have to say that, if it hadn’t been for Sam, I would actually not have walked today.  I’d have got up, seen the weather and gone back to bed.

So, Sam, it’s all your fault!  Thank you!