Downstream — Trip 6 =================== .. articleMetaData:: :Where: London, UK :Date: 2018-10-23 09:15 Europe/London :Tags: blog, downstream, walking :Short: downstream06 On the `previous trip`_ I walked from `Bourne End`_ to Staines_. Staines is pretty easy to reach by a direct train from London Waterloo. Normally I would walk on a Saturday, but this time I walked on a Sunday because the weather on Saturday was rubbish, and I don't like walking in the rain. .. _`previous trip`: /downstream-day-7.html .. _`Bourne End`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourne_End,_Buckinghamshire .. _Staines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staines-upon-Thames Day 8 — Staines to Teddington Lock ---------------------------------- .. vimeo:: :ID: 296485452 :Width: 800 :Height: 450 :Title: Downstream — Day 8 Luckily, the weather had all cleared up on Sunday, and I started in Staines on another beautiful morning. It was cold when I left home in the morning, and I had actually brought a coat. Instead of the coat, I should have brought my sunglasses, as the Sun warmed me up quickly. The coat went not soon after I set of walking in earnest, as I was getting sweaty. It was quite quiet in Staines, with only few people walking their dogs, running, and cycling. There were a lot of posh houses along the Thames on this stretch. After walking past a new built house called "Downstream" (coincidence?) I arrived at a point where I could either take a detour along the `River Wey`_ Navigation, or take the ferry to the other bank of the Thames and continue my journey there. The Nauticalia_ Ferry_ from Shepperton_ to Weybridge_ goes once every 15 minutes, and has been in operation for about 500 years, with a short break in the eighties. The choice was easy, and after buying my £2.50 ticket I didn't have to wait long for it to set off and ferry me, and a couple with a dog, across. .. _`River Wey`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Wey .. _Nauticalia: http://www.nauticalia-marine-services.co.uk/shepperton-weybridge-pedestrian-ferry/ .. _Ferry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepperton_to_Weybridge_Ferry .. _Shepperton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepperton .. _Weybridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weybridge Just before I arrived in `Walton-on-Thames`_ I "ran into" a bunch of people running a marathon. There was even a sign congratulating a runner with their 100th marathon. I think I'll stick to walking… .. _`Walton-on-Thames`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walton-on-Thames For lunch I stopped at `The Swan`_ in Walton, and sat in its garden to enjoy my fish and chips, and a half. It was still a little early and I spend a little too much time relaxing and sitting in the Sun. .. _`The Swan`: http://www.swanwalton.com/ A little further the Thames passes close along a few massive reservoirs, which feed into the water supply of Greater London. Slightly annoyingly, their border is a massive stone wall — and I even had to cross some tank barriers. There was another tiny ferry at Hampton, which I ignored. Instead I crossed the Thames near `Hampton Court Palace`_, where I walked into the forecourt to smooch and take some photos. I visited the palace with my parents a few years ago, but it is so massive that you really need a full day to visit it all. I certainly didn't have the time for that, and continued along the Thames Path. Between Hampton Court Palace and Kingston, there is a quite wide path/walking area, `The Barge Walk`_, with at the beginning lots of flower banks. .. _`Hampton Court Palace`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_Palace .. _`The Barge Walk`: http://www.viewbritain.com/england/kingston/walk-from-kingston-to-hampton-court At `Kingston upon Thames`_ I crossed the Thames for the last time on today's walk. I continued through `Canberry Gardens`_ and a little section along a raised road. Just after coming back onto a footpath my way was blocked by a massive blown-over tree. There was no way to climb over it, so I made my way up the steep bank towards the road, move 20 meters downstream, and then slide back onto the footpath. I think the tree recently blew over, as its brilliant yellow leaves hadn't fallen off yet. .. _`Kingston upon Thames`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_upon_Thames .. _`Canberry Gardens`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canbury_Gardens I finished my walk at `Teddington Lock`_, but not after wandering around the lock's island for a while. There are three lock gates at Teddington_, instead of the usual one (or two) lock gates. I also always thought that Teddington Lock was the last (or first) lock on the Thames, but I failed to realise that there is one further downstream at Richmond as well. However, the one at Teddington is the last *full* lock. Beyond Teddington Lock the river Thames is tidal, and the lock at Richmond only operates on low tide—more about that in the next instalment. .. _`Teddington Lock`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddington_Lock .. _Teddington: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddington After wandering around the lock, I crossed a few bridges, and made my way to Teddington station for my train back into Waterloo. Curiously, as Teddington is situated on the `Kingston Loop Line`_, you can catch the train to Waterloo from either of its two platforms. .. _`Kingston Loop Line`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_loop_line ---- Photos from my Adventure on the Thames Path are available on Flickr_, and all videos on Vimeo_. You can also see all the photos on a map_. .. _Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/derickrethans/45449628932/in/album-72157668662396357/ .. _Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/manage/albums/5306548 .. _map: https://maps.derickrethans.nl/?l=flickr&lat=51.6&lon=-1&zoom=10#fs=DOWNSTREAM