THE DIARY OF SAM J - SUNDAY 10 DECEMBER 2000

The day didn’t get off to the greatest of starts due to engineering works at Epsom.  So, after a short bus ride, we made our way to Becontree. By the time we started walking at 10.30 am, we were an hour behind schedule.  The weather had deteriorated while we were on the train, so we started off in the pouring rain.  We considered going shopping instead, but the thought of missing out on walking through a housing estate and alongside the North Circular was too much.  It did clear up a bit, briefly, and there was just enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers, but it didn’t last long.

We passed along a particularly scary footpath that was littered with half a dozen abandoned motorbikes so we quickened our pace somewhat only to reach an industrial estate and rubbish tip!  Another shower of rain followed and another dual carriageway when we had our first view of some of the more famous landmarks on our route.

We stood in the sunshine, admiring the view of London City Airport, the Millennium Dome and Canary Wharf.  We noticed the backdrop of black clouds and decided – yes, they were heading our way.  At the Woolwich Ferry we reached the Thames for the first time, the opposite bank seemed so close you could almost swim to it.  I did suggest to Susan that she should invest in an inflatable pontoon that she could fling across any body of water that was hampering her route, but I don’t think she was impressed.  It was at this juncture that the heavens opened.  And, boy, did they open!

What people must have thought of us as we cowered beside the wall of the Tate and Lyle factory, in a torrential thunderstorm, wearing practically identical waterproof coats and carrying an Ordnance Survey map, I’d love to know.  We were hysterical by this time and wondering why we were doing such a stupid thing when we could have been in a nice cosy pub, but it was just another shower and we soon dried off in the force nine gale that followed.  That was all the rain for the day and we walked for the rest of the day in brilliant sunshine!

We were soon on the Isle of Dogs and on the home stretch.  There is a walkway along the river for most of the way here and the opportunity to have a nose in people’s windows!  Some of the apartments have spectacular views over the river to the Dome and we could see the Royal Observatory on the hill in Greenwich, our target for the day!

It wasn’t long before we reached the domed entrance to the Greenwich foot tunnel and there was much rejoicing.  The sight of Greenwich means the end of another county and the start of a new.  The South East at last!  Through the tunnel and off for a celebratory pizza.

The weather today left a lot to be desired and the scenery was a bit grim at times, but I really had fun.  It won’t be long before the proper coast path appears once more and I can’t wait to join Susan again soon.