LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I parked at Beckton Asda car park and caught Bus 474 to Woolwich Ferry. The first bus was going in the opposite direction and the bus driver stopped at the wrong bus stop in the bus station. I was amazed to find that the ferry wasn't working because of the marathon. I tried the foot tunnel but it was closed for refurbishment. I then tried the website and 'Travel for London' phone number but they didn't know how long the ferry was closed for. I eventually walked to 'King George V' station on the Docklands Light Railway for the train to Woolwich Arsenal. I walked to the bus stop but the bus route had changed for the marathon, so I had to walk to another bus stop. Bus 177 to Peckham was diverted away from Greenwich, through Lewisham. The bus driver helped me by stopping at the best stop and showing me the direction to walk into Greenwich. The Cutty Sark was still under refurbishment and foot tunnel was also under refurbishment. The Old Naval College was very impressive. The tide was so high that the path past the Naval College was wet from the splashing waves. There was an impressive statue at Trafalgar Tavern and a huge anchor outside the Cutty Sark public house. I stopped for a sandwich at Enderby Wharf, by the old winding gear. The views of Canary Wharf and the Dome (O2) slowly became more impressive in the sunshine. There were plenty of derelict factories south of the Dome. Blackwell River apartments were most impressive from the good path around the Dome. Unfortunately a large high quality fence around the Dome prevented a good close photograph. There was an old bridge of a ship in the water by the Dome, probably controlling the river traffic. By the Millennium Pier there was a very impressive, huge metal sculpture. There were diversions around developments of apartments, some huge, to Greenwich Millennium Village and ecology park. Around Greenwich Yacht Club was another diversion to huge jetties for unloading aggregate from ships or boats. I continued onwards past the Anchor & Hope public house to the Barrier, the official end of the path. I passed a pied wagtail in the green slime of the river shoreline. I couldn't enter the Barrier Centre because of broken tiles, so asked at the gatehouse and got chatting to the gateman, who took a photo of me in front of the Barrier sign. There was yet another diversion through the Barrier park with its huge stones to Woolwich Road with more evidence of the earlier marathon. I went back to the river shore, with the Tate & Lyle works on the opposite bank and jets flying overhead to Docklands airport. The final leg was past moveable canons and the riverside mosaic to the ferry pier, the end of the day's walking. I returned to my car by ferry and bus. I'd planned to walk to Thamesmead but the walk had been cut short due to marathon difficulties getting to the start of the walk. It had been a magic walk in the sunshine with plenty to explore.

Location Map: - Start: at Greenwich - Finish at Greenwich
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