A different starting place and a very different start! The day started with myself and Pete Evans catching the 07.32 train from Clapham Junction to Kew Bridge. Alex was racing in the gardens and was due to set off at 08.20.
We managed to get within about 200 metres of the start as they set off and therefore had to try and negotiate where on the route we could spot him and cheer him on. This was between 7 and 8 km.
None of that about 5.5km was part of the official walk !!
Once Alex had completed and ‘cooled down’ the three of us set off around the gardens. Not really a route today but there were a few elements that we aimed for!
First stop was a tree I had noticed as we had been making our way to the finish.
This was a truly magnificent tree and not one I’d seen before. There are often art installations in the garden and I noticed a particular ‘display’ earlier. It turned out to be a group of planters all with woodland plants.
There were an extraordinary number of squirrels around as well as geese, plus parakeets squawking in the trees. Some of the Cedar trees have a magnificent structure.
We headed towards the pagoda at the bottom of the garden and saw another installation, this time it was about sea dune plants. These have been created by Vaughn Bell.
Our next observation was a completely different type of installation which was next to one of the glasshouses. ‘Please be seated’ was created by architectural designer Paul Cocksedge. It would have been rude not to have take a minute here!
It was not the right moment to have an in depth look at various borders so we headed for the high walk which is always a good experience. Here we were able to get up close to the top of sweet chestnut trees and look down around us. The design incorporates many circular areas as well as linking straight sections. In each of these there are plaques with botanic information. This helps to express how important Oak trees are to our ecosystem.
One more art installation – hedgerow plants -before we head for the lake and some natural sculpture in these immature cones.
During these walks I have often captured swans on or beside water – mostly the Thames. Today was no exception.
Having crossed the lake we made our way towards the river and the view of Syon House before making our way back towards the Brentford Gate entrance which is next to the river. Before we left the garden there was time for a quick coffee stop and a thank you Muffin from Alex for getting up so early to support him. I managed a couple more shots of trees to show the huge range and diversity and one of the children’s area. I liked this idea of a subliminal message portrayed in these little houses.
The next part of our walk was along the river to Richmond – I really must plot all these different sections of Thames path that I’ve explored! Richmond was holding an entire weekend of running events which included a half marathon on the Sunday and a walking route which we observed some participants. There were various distance markets along this riverside path. Such a contrast to the softness of Kew but also some interesting views.
As we got closer to Richmond there was greater evidence of human interaction with the river. Although there weren’t many boats operating on that particular day the demand presumably is quite high during a more normal summer period. As often happens with the Thames there are changes of level and locks are needed. This seems slightly incongruous with large bridges and traffic overhead.
We were soon to reach the edge of Richmond, as the town meets the river and officially stop our walk and go on a quest for lunch. It ended up being very quintessentially British, at a pub called the Cricketers, next to the town green, with a cricket match being played!
Reflection – last time I came to Kew to watch Alex run, two years ago I wouldn’t have been able to walk this far and climbing up to the top of the aerial walk had been really, really tough!
So the official walk was 12 km today. However with the first part of our walk in Kew and subsequent walks to and from stations the total for the day was 21.7 – well I was with Alex so 28,389 steps is about what I would have expected!! Thank you for the company today Alex and Pete and great to see you run again Alex, even if we only caught you once!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 