Capital Ring Week-End Part 1 in Memory of Peter Saw
Sat 24th Aug 2013
Walk Details:
Event Details Updated
This is the first in a series of three walks along the Capital Ring in memory of Peter Saw. Lunch added
Event Type
Group Walk
Region
Southern England
Local Group
London
Distance
25ml.
Start Time
09.00
Route
Start Richmond Stn. End Highgate stn. (northern line) Picnic lunch in park.Dogs must be on a short lead at all times
General Notes
Many years ago, May Bank Holiday 2002 to be exact, I joined London Group for a 3 day hike round the 75 mile Capital Ring. The walk was led by Peter Saw. Peter’s enthusiasm for everything to do with urban walking in London was evident, especially the windmill, ferry, rivers, lakes, woods, foxes, sphinxes, sewers, quirky caffs and toilets. He was also a kind and welcoming leader with a reassuring manner. The walk was full of surprises and the weekend was as enjoyable and exotic, if exhausting, as many I had spent further afield. The best part of it was that the entire trip cost just half a dozen swipes of an Oyster Card (drinks not included).
Peter was Secretary of London Group from 2003 to 2006 and it seems a fitting tribute to him to re-enact the walk. However I will be walking the Ring clockwise. Peter chose to go anti-clockwise for reasons best known to himself. I am not very good at reading books backwards and I will need the excellent book ‘The Capital Ring’ by Colin Saunders to cling on to.
I hope you will join me to discover the real London, a million miles from Oxford Street in spirit (though in reality no more than 10). I also hope you will join me at the end of each day for a glass or two to heal the aching feet.
Web Site
Start and Finish
Entry Details:
Cost
Walk Report
Capital Ring Weekend Part 1 - Richmond to Highgate, Saturday 24th August 201317 walkers, 25 miles - leader Susanne Waldschmidt
The day dawned drizzly but in spite of the weather 17 turned up at Richmond station, some to devote the entire weekend to the challenge of completing the 78 miles of the Capital Ring. The drizzle turned to light rain but it didn't seem to deter anyone and even added a little atmosphere to the trudge along the Grand Union Canal. Then without warning, the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down. The situation looked desperate. Then a vision appeared, a large red sign saying WELCOME The Ballot Box. We democratically elected to enter. The staff seemed unfazed by the appearance of what looked like 17 drowned rats and soon we were enjoying a long, leisurely and dry lunch (sod the picnic sandwiches). The rain eased and the party continued but further trials were yet to come, namely the Cherry Tree Walk toilets, the stench from which bore no relationship at all to the delicate scent suggested by their name. Undaunted by the day's difficulties we all arrived at Highgate with no losses and no drop-outs whatsoever.
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Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
