Mum, Penny (my sister-in-law, currently abandoned by my brother who
is in New Zealand unicycling, er, I mean, on a study exchange, for
six months) and I walked the final section of the London Loop.
In one of the newly-created country parks (I can't remember if this
one was created from an old landfill or not, but most of them were)
we found this bizarre elongated duck-seat.
1/90 at f11, 10mm, ISO100
I actually didn't take many pictures for most of the walk, which was
through various parks. There was an entertaining point where we almost-waded
through puddles in the marshy ground - that was on a metalled path, but
it was still flooded. Other than that there were some nice bits but
it wasn't very photogenic. We eventually reached Rainham station which
was the last station on the route, and Penny left us because she had
to get back to Twickenham. Mum and I, however, were determined to walk
to the absolute finish, even though that just meant having to walk back.
To the river
Beside the normal railway line we had to cross a huge footbridge over
the newly-constructed tracks of
the Channel Tunnel rail link (confusing us somewhat, as we thought it
belonged on the other side of the river).
These pylons provide power to the new line.
1/30 at f11, 13mm, ISO100
The route followed roads like Ferry Lane (the ferry long since gone)
through a desolate industrial area, so things were looking up.
But I don't think the café was really open.
1/30 at f8, 10mm, ISO100
Wasn't the Titanic a White Star Line ship? Maybe this container came
from a sister vessel... actually there's no connection, but still.
1/45 at f8, 16mm, ISO100
That's a big pile of containers.
1/90 at f5.6, 22mm, ISO100
Hornett Bros & Co Ltd are 'a major supplier
of sulphurised additives to the lubricant blending industry, apparently,
but tree preservation is probably not a core business.
1/90 at f6.7, 13mm, ISO100
The Thames at last
Finally we reached the Thames and set off eastward along the riverside
path toward the nearby Tilda Rice plant.
Gates to a Tilda Rice pier.
1/45 at f8, 15mm, ISO100
You could actually smell the rice.
1/20 at f6.7, 22mm, ISO100
Rusted pipe and the plant behind.
1/45 at f6.7, 10mm, ISO200
We continued on for Coldharbour Point as the sun sank in the sky,
making an appropriate end to the walk.
This is taken through a gate; you couldn't actually walk out along this
jetty. The pipe looked like some kind of outfall; it slumped into the
river at the end, floating with the tide.
1/10 at f9.5, 20mm, ISO200
Sunset across the river.
1/20 at f9.5, 22mm, ISO200
Finally that was it - the end of the 150 mile long-distance path. Not
a very auspicious end; a padlocked gate and barbed-wire fence, along
with a collapsed 'no access to pedestrians' sign, as part of the landfill
site on Coldharbour Point.
We were a bit disappointed not to reach the beacon on the tip of the point,
but still - this was the end of the walk!
1/10 at f8, 22mm, ISO400
From here the only way was back.
1/15 at f8, 22mm, ISO400
The Loop is eventually supposed to continue to Purfleet, once they finish
clearing up the landfill site. But for now we turned back along the
bank, as daylight faded away.
A skeletal diver sculpture, covered at high tide; some old boats; and
the factory opposite, where we had just watched a red ship mooring after
coming around the point.
1/20 at f2.8, 30mm, ISO400
Some old barges dumped here. These were supposedly used
to transport concrete as part of the D-Day landings.
1/30 at f1.8, 30mm, ISO400
The Tilda plant again, and a distant wind turbine in the background.
1/45 at f2.8, 30mm, ISO800
That wind turbine and the lights of the north bank, through an access
ladder over the flood wall.
1/45 at f2.5, 30mm, ISO800
The south bank, seen over channels in the low-tide mud.
1/8 at f2.5, 30mm, ISO800
And that's it! We aren't sure which long-distance path to attempt
next, but it may very likely be more of a countryside walk. Maybe I
won't even need to take a camera. We'll see.
