So the final day arrived - an exciting morning as it was also my birthday and we were staying in London for the weekend with our family. It was a tradition birthday morning with everyone invading our room for cards and present opening.
Quite an emotional time especially as our daughter surprised me with a video of personal messages from some very special people; Ospreys, Scarlets, Blues and Dragons players with the additional shock of Tigers players too.
I do get emotional which can leave me quite shaky - an overdose of nerve signals is never good - so I was already on a wobbly walk to the DLR.
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| On the replacement bus |
Just to make our final route interesting the DLR had closed part of the line so we had the added fun of a 'replacement bus' - it actually took most of
Route 7 allowing us to reminisce and show everyone our last trip.
Route 7 finished at the main junction of Tower Bridge, the Highway and Towerhill which was not far from the bus stop.
It's a great junction to stand at as whichever way you look there's a London landmark - The Tower of London, The Royal Mint, Tower Bridge and The Shard, the newest landmark that has been with us from the very start as we made our way to Greenwich for
Route 1.
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Ready for the off with The Shard
in the background |
We did not have breakfast at the hotel so our first stop was the pub for sustenance and to meet our friends who were joining us for the final 3 miles. I had planned to breakfast in
The Liberty Bounds but now being a group of 7 and it being a popular breakfast stop we couldn't find a table.
Having decided to continue the route until we found a breakfast spot we headed west towards Lower Thames Road. A very busy road full of red buses and open top tour buses as this road runs along side
The Tower of London - a spectacular building dating back to 1066 when William the Conqueror built it to keep out the ranging Londoners.
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| The Tower of London |
Crossing Great Tower Street we spotted the appropriately named (due to its proximity to the Tower)
The Hung Drawn & Quartered, another
Fuller's pub. Although only 200 metres into Route 8 it was time to take a break for breakfast.
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| Breakfast stop |
A lovely breakfast and coffee to set us up for the walk. The pub had an interesting plaque on the wall stating that in 1660 Samuel Pepys had witnessed an unpleasant capital punishment. I much preferred the pub's perfect sign that was outside the door.
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| Gruesome glimpse into history |
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| Perfect signage to start us off |
Setting off down Lower Thames Road the view changed to office blocks but you don't go far in London without history raising its head. There, glimpsed down a narrow street, was
Monument, towering above us . It was built 1671-1677 to mark the start of the Great Fire of London and celebrate the rebuilding of the city.
Quite a few years ago when the children (and us) were younger we all walked up Monument, all 311 steps. Somewhere we have a certificate to prove it too ! I'm very glad it wasn't part of Route 8.
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| Monument |
Lower Thames Street follows the river but with buildings separating it from the banks. A mixture of old and new buildings with gaps for vehicle access revealed more glimpses of well known buildings and landmarks as well as interesting bits we know nothing about.
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| Drinking font set in the wall of one of the buildings |
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| Great view of The Shard |
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| Strata SE1 - nicknamed the Razor |
Without knowing it we walked under the road to London Bridge - it's quite an ordinary bridge, nothing like Tower Bridge which is often called London Bridge by mistake.
The road changes into Upper Thames Street and continues following the river past Cannon Street Station. We passed many interesting places including
Vintner's Hall which we were all very interested in and
St James Garlichythe Church.
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| Vintner's Hall |
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| The emblem on the Vintner's Gate |
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| Ornate clock on the side of St James Garlickhythe |
A little further down Upper Thames Street we had to do a slight detour as the road continues through a tunnel and pedestrians are not allowed. When it's the actual marathon the roads are closed and the runners do run through the tunnel. We turned towards the river along High Timber Street and Paul's Walk all the way to Blackfriars where we rejoined the official route on Victoria Embankment.
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| Route 8 walkers |
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| The Globe Theatre looking across the river |
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| St Paul's Cathedral |
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| Blackfriars Bridge - old and new |
Victoria Embankment follows the Thames on one of it's largest curves right round to Westminster. Looking east, the route so far, you can see
St Paul's and
The Shard; and looking west you can see the route to go and on the south bank the
London Eye.
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| Looking east |
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| Looking west |
All along the Embankment are ornate benches, lampposts and many memorials. It's a very pleasant stroll with lovely views of the south bank. Over the whole route we have seen many many views but walking the Victoria Embankment gives a true feeling of being in London.
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| Ornate benches and lamppost |
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| Police box |
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| Lamppost |
Cleopatra's Needle is one of the famous landmarks, an 3,500 year old obelisk it was brought to London in 1878. It's an amazing piece of work, flanked by two bronze Sphinxs.
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| Cleopatra's Needle |
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| One of the bronze sphinxs |
Big Ben was like the proverbial carrot - there in front of us but still far away, but with so many sights to see we were carried along. Two such sights were quite moving; the beautiful golden eagle on the Royal Air Force Memorial , and the amazing
Battle of Britain sculpture. Overlooking the Thames these two memorials are a striking reminder of our more recent history. The
Battle of Britain Monument is at our level and shows many aspects, it really is impressive and thought provoking.
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| Royal Air Force Memorial |
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| Battle of Britain Momument |
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| Battle of Britain Memorial |
Across the water was the huge wheel of the London Eye; we took a flight for our daughter's birthday when she was quite young, you really do get a birds' eye view. A few years ago we also stood on Embankment at New Year's Eve when Big Ben chimed in the New Year and the London Eye was ablaze of fireworks. A very different view on my final walk, especially with the rain starting to become heavier.
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| London Eye in the darkening sky |
Finally we made it to Westminster Bridge, the end of Embankment with Big Ben towering above us. Turning right into Bridge Street the magnificent Houses of Parliament were on our left - the stonework is so intricate giving the building a very formidable look. A couple of years ago we had a tour of the
Houses of Parliament - it's a fascinating visit and explains so much about how our, what seem old fashioned, customs work.
Bridge Street became George Street which became Birdcage Walk, a long tree lined road running along the side of St James' Park leading to Buckingham Palace, our final landmark.
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| Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament |
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A typical London view; red phone box, Big Ben,
red London buses .... and umbrellas ! |
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| Birdcage Walk |
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| Birdcage Walk - tree lined avenue in central London |
It really did rain - such a shame as it's not often we are all together or in London. I was very tired by now; both our son and daughter asked how I was doing .... 'I'm fine!' was my standard reply but I know they knew the truth; I was so grateful for my Dad's walking pole as Route 8 felt like a very long way.
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My lovely family walking with me
even in the rain ! |
And so to
Buckingham Palace - the flagpole was covered with scaffolding so we couldn't tell if the Queen was in or not. I would have welcomed an invite for a cup of tea; very much needed by now. It certainly is a must see London building and it seemed very appropriate for it to be the final one, not only for Route 8 but the whole marathon route - save the best until last.
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| Buckingham Palace |
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| Victoria's Memorial stands outside the Palace |
One final turn, right towards Trafalgar Square and into The Mall. The Mall is another tree lined avenue that faces the Palace. It's our main ceremonial route and links to Horse Guards Parade where mounted guards ride from each day for Changing of the Guard at the Palace.
On state occasions, Royal celebrations, the London Marathon and other major events the road is closed. The street is lined with people and for special events such as the Queen's Jubilee or a Royal Wedding after the carriages have returned to the Palace the road is full of people walking to the Palace where the Royal Family appear on the balcony.
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The Mall - an iconic long straight tree
lined road used for important occasions |
For us all was quite; no carriages, no horses, just London taxis and every day cars but it was the most exciting road to me. At last I had made it to the finish line of the London Marathon.
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Finish line
I hopped into the road in a break in traffic |
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| Finish too for my amazing family |
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| Finish too for my very supportive friends |
So the journey has finished - after completing Route 8 the very much needed celebration drink was our next stop. The Mall has no bus stops or tube stations so we continued through Horse Guards Parade into Whitehall, past the mounted guard.
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| Mounted guard |
Tucked away in Craig's Court we found
Walker's of Whitehall - a perfect place to celebrate with a glass of bubbly (thanks to my friends) and a bottle of red to share.
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| Cheers |
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| Celebration bottle of French red |
As I said in my
'It's over' post my lovely Hubby presented me with a medal and a trophy - such a surprise. They are now pride of place on our mantle as to be honest if I didn't keep looking at them I wouldn't believe I've done it.
Eight visits to London spread over a year - numerous tube stations - a few buses - plenty of refreshment stops - a sturdy walking pole - one amazing Hubby - all helped me complete the LONDON MARATHON route !!
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Dad's thumb stick - I couldn't have made it
without it - Dad took it to the top of Snowdon
and now it has a London Marathon medal too |
This isn't my final post as we are having a family celebration in a few weeks and my blog about that will be closing post for Clare's Challenge 50.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to my four charities - MS Society, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Diabetes UK and the British Paralympic Association - the current total is an amazing
£1320.50
