efog-blog
London Riverside walk
Six members met on Saturday 18th March for a London Thames walk starting at Blackfriars underground station. I gave some history commentary on Blackfriars rail & road bridges, pointed out the ‘pulpit’ like seating areas on road bridge, which are decorated with marine birds downstream and freshwater birds upstream. We had a look at the huge mural by the Australian street artist Jimmy C. on the south side before setting off downstream, visiting the Sea Containers design centre and Gabriel’s Wharf on the way. 
After passing the tourists waiting for their London Eye rides or visitor attractions, we passed under Westminster Bridge to view the National Covid Memorial Wall which stretches a long way down opposite the Houses of Parliament.
We continued to enjoy the various sites along the river, both historic and modern. Vauxhall Bridge is interesting; one of the eight female statues that adorn the bridge holds a miniature of St Paul's Cathedral. We continued on to reach Battersea Power Station, I think it is amazing what they have done to the site; there are a couple of exhibition areas inside, some of the old workings are on view, and the scale inside is huge. There is an observation lift up one on the chimneys (pricey), lots of shops (pricey), eateries etc.
Two members left us after lunch, and four of us carried on downstream a bit further to cross back over to the north side of the river via Chelsea Bridge. We walked back upstream, taking in more sites until we reached Westminster, where the walk ended at around 7 mile mark.
The weather forecast was for rain. While it was lightly drizzling when we started out, it soon stopped. There was a heavy shower lunchtime when we were luckily inside, and so we missed the worst and enjoyed some sunshine at times.
Sue. S. 19th March 2023
South Downs Youth Hostel Weekend
Despite the biting cold, six of us - Eileen, Marian, Jinan, Fozi, Louise and Val - braved the wind and rain for a lovely weekend (10-13th March) at the YHA youth hostel just outside Lewes, organised by Eileen.
Littlehampton SeafrontWe spent a day in Littlehampton visiting Ann Walden, one of our ex-members who moved down there a while ago. We did a circular walk through the town and along the sea front, and then on to a lovely stretch from the estuary along The River Arun. I have to say we were all relieved to get back to town and out of the cold and wet for a well-earned evening meal at The Gravy Boat (Highly recommended - the food was delicious).
The next day we did another walk in and around the Lewes area, taking in various points of interest including Lewes Priory, Ann of Cleves House, and Southover Grange Gardens. I had forgotten how hilly Lewes is in places, and we had a good workout tackling same.
The final day we again spent a short time in Lewes and then on the homeward journey visited Standen House and gardens, a National Trust property.
Val. 15th March 2023
Little Venice, Regents Canal and Primrose Hill
On Sunday 12th February, on a very crisp, bright and sunny day, ten EFOG members met at Warwick Avenue Station, just a little way from Little Venice area, for a walk led by Eileen.
On Primrose HillThe lovely weather seemed to have encouraged people out, because it was quite busy and bustling in places. From Little Venice we made our way to the Regents Canal towpath, passing some very impressive/expensive looking houses (lucky them - living in such a beautiful surroundings). We made a wide circuit around Regents Park, which was very green with the shrubs and trees full of buds just beginning to realise it's time to wake up and put on a show (It's all going to look very different in a few weeks time).
Along past the perimeter of London Zoo and on to Primrose Hill, from the top of which you get that amazing view across London. Then back along the canal to the station where we started.
Roughly 6 miles of very enjoyable walking.
Val. 16th February 2023
Bridging the Dock
Looking at the photographs below, taken at an EFOG walk in 2014, of the twelve people that attended I think that all but one or two are still members of the group, and most of those still reasonably participant in it. That's quite something, after 9 years.
EFOG members chatting to Simon Myers on 18th May 2014The walk was one that I led through a somewhat lesser-known area of London, walking from Stratford to the River Thames and mainly beside the River Lea. Apart from introducing people to an area which I was perhaps more familiar with than the others, my intention was to show just how frustratingly poor the footpath system could be, particularly after all of the hype of the Olympic Games, and how wonderful the aftermath of that would be. You can read about that walk by using the link here, or below the article, and it may be noted that the barrier that prohibits complete access along the riverside to Canning Town is STILL in place.
I visited Cody Dock - the riverside community project that I became fully aware of on that day - on Monday 30th January (2023), on one of those January days that is bright and with enough warmth in the sunshine to be able to comfortably sit by the river and eat one of Nadia's Chilli con carne and Rice meals, with a cup of tea.
Cody Dock has changed enormously over those years. For the majority of them, the dock has been open to the public during daylight hours, enabling walkers and cyclist to travel to and from Bow Locks, and out into the area around Start Lane DLR station. As I said, that barrier is still in place, so to continue on to Canning Town and the Thames still necessitates the horrid walk along Stephenson Street - although I noted that at least some rubbish/fly-tip/abandoned car removal had been undertaken recently.
The dock itself has undergone all manner of improvements; like Copped Hall, each time you go there some improvement has been made. A useful improvement to the infrastructure has been the addition of proper toilet (and shower) facilities, which is a great relief. And a very major improvement to the dock more recently has been the installation of a substantial bridge over the entrance from the river to the dock itself. This is the 'Rolling Bridge', the first - and possibly the only - one of its kind in the world. Proposed in 2019, the bridge is operational, but not yet in use. What prompted me to write this article was seeing the promised engravings of people's names on the bridge - people who donated to the fund to get the bridge built. As you may be able to see from the photograph, although the names are in essentially alphabetical order, the first two are not. Those names will be familiar to all of those who came on that 2014 walk, and to most of the club members. They are Duncan Lowther and Ann Lowther. Duncan was known for not venturing into London, much preferring the countryside or quiet towns. But once he had been introduced to the Cody Dock project, he made numerous visits there, and indeed lent his strength, knowledge and abilities to the project. He particularly liked the 'gardening' aspect, and even on casual visits for a cup of tea and maybe a hot meal from Nadia's cafe, he would usually do a bit of weeding. And when the concept of the bridge was forming, he took a great interest in it's design, and donated a generous sum to the funding. If you look at the YouTube video - linked at the bottom of this article - you will see that the credits include Duncan's donation. (at 2:03)
It really is nice to see how much Duncan's contribution to the project has been appreciated. What an honour to be first on that list, together with his wife, Ann. It's a solid memorial.
Cody Dock's rolling bridge on 23rd January 2023
Duncan and Ann Lowther's names are at the beginning of the list
Paul Ferris, 31st January 2023
December Epping Forest walk
On Saturday 10th December, three intrepid members braved the cold, wrapped up warm and enjoyed a frosty but lovely sunny winter walk in Epping Forest.
Leaving Loughton Station we walked into the Forest at the Stubbles, viewing the frozen-over Strawberry Hill Pond before settling out around the horse paths to the Ups and Downs Ride to High Beech, with a stop off at the Visitors Centre for a look round. We had a lunch break in the sun at the Bikers Hut (large hot chocolates all round), and after lunch we walked via Mount Pleasant to pick up the Green Ride to Jacks Hill. After a group decision we continued around the Theydon Loop past Ambresbury Banks before heading back to Theydon Bois Station.
The Forest was very picturesque in the winter sunshine; many of the oaks are still dropping their leaves, and fungi were seen in some places. A very pleasant and enjoyable 7.5 mile walk by the end.
Sue S. 11th December 2022