The Long Walk

Youngest brother John, suggested a walk across London mainly on canal bank tow paths, thus largely avoiding traffic and roads but taking a break for lunch at one the pubs enroute.

The walk  commenced at Limehouse Station on the Docklands Light Railway.

An easy journey to the  walk's start as the 'Drain' from London's Waterloo to Bank Station was straight forward enough. Indeed the DLR thence  to Limehouse station proved simple and speedy so I arrived at the meeting point rather early. Indeed a stroll before meeting with the others was required.

The area around Limehouse was I have to say pretty unprepossesing until I reached the Thames, where there was a great looking Gordon Ramsey restaurant. The  restaurant was closed though open for a convenient pit stop before walking back to meet John and youngest sister. The only coffee available for miles was in the dark looking grocery shop opposite the station but it was cheap and cheerful enough.

Upon the other two arriving we started our agreed walk which proved excellent.

Brother and sister Steph are pictured left on the canal alongside one of the many barges enroute.

The walk was as promised traffic-free though there were many cyclists and runners on the canal path as we made our way towards Highbury and Islington near to the Almeida Theatre Steph had treated mrs maytrees and myself to the Cold War play there, only a few days earlier:

Cold War

Indeed we stopped at a pub in Upper Street near to the Almeida, where we had very welcome drinks and lunch. At that point Steph left for home whilst John and I walked further along the canal, to Regents Park.

As will be seen on the right, we enjoyed welcome tea and coffee at the gatehouse cafe.

After rest and refreshment, we continued the walk to Regents Park underground station, from where the journey to Waterloo mainline railway and home was straight forward.

The walk admittedly including my local pre-breakfast walk and the extra walk to the Gordon Ramsay restaurant, was about a half marathon in length.