Well mad

Slow Ways Routes – Lonpec one, Lonmon two, Monliv one, Livdal one, Dalwal one

My journey across London on the tube and overground was quite painless even if it was the rush hour, not half as bad as I was expecting. I arrived at Peckham Rye Station and was immediately assaulted by the sights, sounds and smells of a lively and vibrant community.

This was the start of my Slow Ways walk but first it was just down the street and around the corner to the Oasis Community Housing project. It’s great that it’s so close to the Slow Ways route, almost as if they were made for each other.

I received video messages of support from Jo and Ben from Oasis and from Dave Smith the CEO which I don’t mind admitting brought a tear to my eye. I wasn’t prepared for the outpouring of support and encouragement which only got even greater when I met the staff and residents at the project. I was after all just doing a sponsored walk. There were balloons, cards and a huge breakfast. The quote of the day was one of the service users who said that it was “Well mad”

I had some filming to do with Andrew from Oasis and a bit of walking up and down to get video and photos. The result is below.

As I walked I reflected how wonderful the start of the walk had been. I felt very much that I was part of the team, not just some random supporter walking for a charity.

The first route was from Peckham to London Bridge. The vibrancy of Rye Lane with its sights, sounds and smells assaulting the senses soon transitioned through a public space to a more calming and more tranquil walking and cycling route along the Surrey Canal Walk, (no canal now), and through Burgess Park.

It changed again to more familiar urban streets. When I crossed the Old Kent Road my mind was transported back to playing Monopoly as a child. Those places belonged to another world and here I was in that world. The nearer I got to London Bridge the more gentrified the streets became and the contrast with Peckham was really strong. It’s not that one is better than the other I just love the variety you see in just a shortish walk. As a reviewer on the Slow Ways web site says “The walk is like an introductory course in urban sociology”.

Once I reached London Bridge the task was to find my walking companions for the next stage. My friend Alison was walking as far as Liverpool Street Station, (another Monopoly place) and Dan from Slow Ways who would walk with me to Dalston. Once I had managed to find them both we set off across London Bridge and onwards into London ‘proper’.

It was such a joy to be walking with others. Alison left us to return home to the North-East and I continued with Dan. Looking back I don’t remember much about central London, apart from huge buildings and construction projects. I was too busy enjoying my conversation with Dan. Apart from anything else he introduced me to the Slow Ways community on Twitter/X.

Dalston was an opportunity to find a bench to rest and have some water. This was the first time I realised that my feet were getting blisters. While I was resting I had one of those wonderful encounters with strangers. A mother and son were sitting next to me and we had a lovely chat. I couldn’t stop too long as I had arranged to meet my son Jonathan who had finished work early and would walk with me for the last part of the day. I had made sure the end of my first day was in Walthamstow so I could stay with them!

The busy London streets gave way to the Walthamstow Wetlands and the River Lee Navigation with its narrow boats and other craft. By mid afternoon I was flagging. The heat was really getting to me and my feet were hurting. But it was great to be sharing part of my walk with family too. We stopped off at a riverside pub for a much need pint, I needed the shade and the electrolytes.The route took us through some of the paths and streets I remembered from previous walks with Jonathan and Caitlin. Eventually we reached the official end of today’s walk at Walthamstow. There was still a little way though, to go though till I was able to rest.

Looking back over the day it was such a wonderful beginning to this adventure. I met so many people and was overwhelmed by their kindness and support. I managed to cross London(ish) in a day, with friends and family. I realised afresh how many communities make up this huge conurbation, how much variety. The only downside were the heat and blisters which took some of the edge off what otherwise has been an awesome day.