Scroll down to the end for the story of the big event.

Fiona says:

Alright, I admit it, i've reached the point when i have to face the fact that i'm unlikely to run the London Marathon. I'm just no good at running outdoors. Walking though, that I can do. Walking at night through London has always been one of my favourite things. So Maggie's Night Hike is clearly the event for me. And I've persuaded Andrew to come with me.

So on 17th Sept we will walk 20 miles around london, overnight.

Some people undertake an event like this because something has happened to someone they love. I first thought about doing it because it seems like an enjoyable challenge. But raising money for a good cause makes it all worthwhile.

The nice people at Maggie's who are organising the event have asked us to raise £600. Maggie's run support centres for people with cancer. They are calm non-medical centres for emotional and physical support to help people heal, or just cope. Having signed up we started to think about people we know who have been affected by cancer. And it was a list that gradually got longer and longer.

Our walk starts and ends at the Guildhall in the City. By the time we reach Maggies in Hammersmith we will be (just under) half way through our journey. We will have an idea of what the rest of the night has in store and that when we finish we can head home for a rest and to carry on with life as normal. If only all the people who visit Maggies could say the same. 

Andrew concurs....

Well, as with so many things, Fiona is full of good ideas and is right again. This will be a fun and interesting thing for us to do, and worthwhile. There are many we know and love who have been affected by this group of illnesses. And this is our chance to walk along and give support to those unfortunate to be directly affected by cancer.

We hope you'll give us your support - and be cheered by the thought of us trolling down the Cromwell Road past the V & A, through the West End toward the medieval Guildhall in the historic City of London. I may well be tired and blistered, but a smiling Jon Snow (Channel 4 News fame) will surely spur me on! (In a cod Irish accent) - give us your money - now!

 

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Training update

Yesterday was our last "long" walk in training. We wanted to do 15 miles and decided to stroll along the river. It was postponed from Sunday because of the weather, so lets hope it's nice on the 17th.

Setting off down to the Thames we strolled around the Rotherhithe peninsula. Something we've not done all the way round before, all 2-3 miles of it. Andrew's pedometer said one thing, mine said another, so we're not entirely sure of our distances. We'll find out on the big day whether i've been underacheiving or he's done more than he thought.

Round the empty paths of Rotherhithe, passed the Hilton hotel (Aaah!), through Cherry Gdns, where Samuel Pepys came to the pub, we paused in the cafe of the Design Museum for coffee and a hint of sustenance.

We continued through the swellling crowds of Bermondsey, Bankside and Southbank. Declining to join the mayhem of the summer water feature by the Festival Hall, we popped inside to share an aubergine and lentil curry. Just over 5 miles by now. Maybe.

Staying on the South Bank we passed through the scrum by County Hall and enjoyed views of Parliament, duck-tours, and canoers (is it a word?).  Being a breezy day, the flag over the Victoria Tower looked big. Almost certainly the one that is the same size as our flat (really, the flag is 11m by 5.5m, our flat is 9m by 6m ). We crossed Lambeth Bridge and paused briefly on the steps of the Tate (aah!) which we reckoned was about half way.

And on down Millbank, round the bottom of Pimlico and back across the river at Chelsea Bridge (Opened in 1937 by MacKenzie King, Canadian PM, any ideas why him?). We didn't deviate from the riverside, not even to enjoy the delights of Battersea park. Approaching Albert Bridge we were concerned the current works might force us on, further upstream, but no, pedestrians are allowed across.

Just before crossing, I took the photo in which Canary Wharf is just visible over the roof of another building - away on the far far horizon. So different to where we began our walk, where it looms just on the other side of the river. Even more bizarre, in the photo from Battersea the building to the left of Canary Wharf is the new block at Elephant. I've never seen it from the back before. And apologies to everyone who lives in West London but to have it standing left of Canary Wharf is just weird. It's true that Sloane Square is further south than Elephant and Castle, but that doesn't make it right.

Limbs now feeling weary, we made our way along the Kings Road and into Patisserie Valerie. Ahh the restorative power of tea and scones!  Plus the amusing spectacle of the very big dogs having a drink at the fountain.

The end was in sight, we just popped through Belgravia (where the training photo was staged, camera propped on a handy railing). On past Liz's house. Her Majesty that is, nowhere near Kilburn. Down the Mall, along Strand and into the Coal Hole for a restorative. My machine said 15.4 miles, Andrew's only 13.9 miles. But we reckoned that was enough. From there it is only a short hobble to the 188 bus stop at Aldwych. I say hobble because coming down Strand Andrew's calf was getting painful and my right knee sort of seized up. Mine's not quite right today, but is getting better. Hasn't added to my peace of mind about doing it all again in just over two weeks, and then another five (or seven-ish) miles on top.

But until the last 200 yards it was a really delightful day. Walking across London, following the river, in one go, is a very satisfying thing. You appreciate the twists and turns of the river, as landmarks come and go -popping up at odd angles. Everything slows down, there is time to really look at your surroundings. I'd recommend it to anyone.

The other photos I've added are mostly wildlife. Fun things that live by the river. (now supplanted by photos of the big event)

So, congratulations if you've read this far. You've just been reading. We took eight and a bit hours to walk it (including food stops and distractions). Which puts us in the finishing 20 miles plus stops in the leisurely 11-12 hours end of the spectrum. And this was daytime, next time it will be over-night. I think we'll make it to the end, I hope we will. Your generosity will spur us on......

Fi 

 

The Night Hike

The bare bones is this, we set off at 8.15pm, we didn't stop too long anywhere along the way, had plenty of tea and biscuits. Slowed down for the last 2 miles or so and finished just before 4.30am.  It was good, but not quite as much fun as I was hoping for. If you want to know why,  you'll have to read some more !

Approaching the Guildhall the first sign of the event were some guys in white t-shirts, having some last minute liquid refreshment outside the City Tavern. Getting closer we could see that Guildhall yard was awash with people, and an archway had been set up over the King St entrance, to be our start point. Inside were people registering, and I couldn't help but think of the other sights these walls had seen. The elections of about 550 Lord Mayors, state banquets galore and the trial of Lady Jane Grey amongst others. And now this (picture 1). Along with our t-shirts and route maps we were given cloth that we could write on "I'm walking for..." it said. Looking around and seeing that other people had filled in Mum, Dad, Uncle Ted etc, I decided my first thought of "Fun" would be inappropriate. We also had the opportunity to make a paper bag lantern for display later on....

Outside again we settled on a hearty falafal wrap to set us up for the walk, and then shared a crepe. At which point i noticed that we were two blobs of white in a sea of green. The 10 mile hikers (in white t-shirts) had set off, and we were conspicuously wearing the wrong colour. Quick t-shirt swap later we were free to enjoy the steel band duet, enthusiastically entertaining the masses.

A few announcements from the organisers, a quick warm up lead by two guys (bizarrely) in drag from a local gym, a pep talk from actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock recently) and we were under way.  Quite slowly.  Funnelled down King St we filled up the road all the way to Cheapside, and were then squished onto a narrow pavement by the roadworks.  Plenty of time then to admire the gleaming clean portland stone of St Pauls, but by the time we got to Cannon St I was itching to get away from everyone else. (Clearly I don't like big crowds).  Andrew was persuaded that we could cross over on Ludgate Hill and finally, on the other pavement to everyone else, feeling very unfriendly, we started to walk normally.

Everyone else crossed to join us at Ludgate Circus, but by then the group had started to stretch out.   ( about 2000 people took part, starting at 3 different times, i suspect there were 7-800 of us setting off in one go).

 

Fleet St passed by in a flash. Our early pace was aimed at meeting our support team of Mum and Dad at a certain time in Victoria. Savoy Hill took us past my old workplace at the IEE (now IET? ) where the first regular BBC radio broadcasts happened in 1922. Past the Williams family ancestral land near the Savoy Hotel (used to belong to John of Gaunt). Faraday waved his blessings as we emerged onto the Embankment. 

In no time at all we had rounded Parliament Sq, trolleyed along some back streets and were arriving at Channel 4. There were plenty of people ahead of us, already tucking into tea, coffee and biscuits. But no one volunteering for the kareoke stage. I found refreshments whilst Andrew checked the songlist. Although is was Lucky Voice they didn't have one of Andrew's favourites "Gordon is a Moron" by Jilted John. I was secretly relieved. Instead he launched into ....  The Stylistics. There were people swaying along and enjoying the rendition and he got a sizeable cheer when he went into falsetto half way through. It was just after that that I remembered I could record sound on my camera!   After him came 4 ladies, tackling Tom Jones with more energy than expertise and we hastily beat our retreat.

 

We met M & D who stayed with us past the Royal Geographical Soc and down to South Ken, and then we were off down through the barren wastelands ( well I don't know it at all) towards Hammersmith. But I shall have to pick up the story some other time, because for now, I have to go out. A dutch student group will be waiting for me at Tower Hill, eager (possibly) to hear all about Jack the Ripper.

Wed 6th Oct,  to be continued....

Oops, Ok so it's now 23rd Nov,  Kitchen is looking good, cupboards on the walls and everything. But a gentle nudge from Maggies that we've not actually raised our target amount, and the release of the official video of the event have dragged me back to take up the tale. It'll be more concise now, some bit have faded from my memory.

On the way down to Maggies I developed a blister on the side of my toe. (forgot to cut my toenails, duh) But was equiped with super blister plasters so perched on someone's garden wall to apply one. At 12.00pm our pedometers re-set, so we lost track of where we'd got to, but not long after that Maggie's Centre hove into sight.

We should have stayed longer, but it's very small. which in a way makes the work they do even more impressive. But at the time, we walked through to find the tea, and before we knew it were out the other side in the refreshments marquee. Having been refreshed we thought about going round again to have a proper look, but decided to press on.  

Surprisingly quickly we were back on familiar territory as we approached High St Ken. Turning into Kensington Gardens took us to the next stop at the Serpentine gallery pavillion. Flagging by now we were delighted to see sandwiches, and more hot drinks, and balloons and a lot of red.

The streets were  fairly quiet now, and up through Mayfair was a delight. Except for the suspicion that the plaster on my blister, was now rubbing on the next toe, making another blister, and thinking if i put a plaster on that, it'll only make my third toe blister and so on. Oxford St mostly empty, St Christopher's Place earily so. Just paused at the next stop long enough to check my feet and find that 2nd toe, not blistered, just sore.

Onwards and upwards to RIBA, where a small choir were singing alarmingly loudly and peircingly on the stairs. But in the bar (with the tunnocks wafers)  were displays of the different Maggies centres around the country. All of them beautiful buildings.  From here we knew it was managable. down to horseguards and then back the Guildhall. I've forgotton what time it was, but 1.30, 2am maybe.

The stretch down Regents St had quite a change of character. Suddenly lots of drunken ladies in high heels and tiny dresses were lurching across the pavements while equally wobbly guys failed to hail taxis. Until now there had always been other hikers on the horizon, now they vanished, but all this other life was going on. Presumably a typical Friday night, and not London at it's best.

 Piccadilly Circus, still colourfully lit and bustling, even at that time of night. Down past the Duke of York and through to Horseguards. I went to the ladies - upstairs and saw the nice staircase, lantern skylight and elegantly plastered rooms. Andrew's trip to the gents took him passed the working areas with the noticeboards and the rotas for guard duties. both interesting in their own way.

In the driveway under the arch were the lanterns made of paper bags that people had made earlier. But only a tiny fraction of them. Maybe the others somewhere else on the 10 mile route, and maybe i was getting tired by then but i was not entirely impressed. The lanterns were lovely, but where did the rest of them go?  All ready for a warming beverage we headed to the refreshments table to find cold drinks and some very familiar looking cereal bars. Maybe the logistics made it difficult to have hot drinks, but at this stage in the walk that's really what I wanted. Not the best stop from my point of view.

So on we went. I've never really noticed that there is a hill from St Martins up towards Seven dials, but we noticed it now!  My toe getting more painful with each step, Andrew's muscles seizing up, we were on the home straight, but we were plodding rather than walking.

Seven Dials looked nice, lit with the bright lights of Chicago. The City Dragon by Chancery Lane was like an old friend reassuring us that we had not far to go.Then Holborn went on for ever. Andrew found spiritual support at St Andrew's Holborn.  Cross the viaduct, passed Thameslink,  St Paul's again, and along Gresham St to the Guildhall. We got a medal and some whooping from the volunteers who were there to welcome us home. The yard was peppered with groups in various states of tiredness and discomfort, but everyone glad to be done. And happy to tuck into a big bacon sandwich and a cup of tea.

Once sustained for the journey we headed for the bus, which we saw coming, and with an extraordinary final burst of energy we ran for the bus. Being a night bus and 4.45 in the morning it whisked us to the end of our road in record time and we tucked up in bed labout 45 mins after crossing the finish line. Hurrah 

So all in all, it was good but not great. Worth doing, especially as all you nice people are helping us to help such a worthwhile organisation. But i feel slightly guilty for not enjoying it more. I notice in the video that the 10 mile walkers got given champagne, and they only walked half the distance. Am I a bad, shallow person hankering after a glass of fizz? There's only so many times a night one can eat a flapjack.

If you've made it this far, and read all this, my god you deserve a medal. Perhaps even sponsership, find a good cause and I'll sponser you per paragraph.

P.S. At some point in the weekend we did manage to get to one open house. A local museum  which had a talk about the blitz. I wanted precise details of what happened when, where different bombs fell - usefull info for doing walks. It turned out to be an actress in the room set they have, doing the whole "I love a bit of Vera Lynn on the radio - just been down the allopment, do you like my marrow" chit-chat. It might have been wonderful but we had to make a decision fast - we hid behind a display of vintage biscuit tins and then made our escape.  

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation. Have a lovely lovely Christmas. If you haven't - Bah Humbug.