Our Street   Tree Gardens   Ockendon's Trees    Events    Activities    Pets' Corner  Ockendon Notes   History


 

Want to relive past walks? Visit Ramble Archive

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

River Ramble

ORRA 2012 New Year Excursion.

The pedants who plan these Ockie Road rambling outings are wary of change. So it was with apprehension that we moved the first excursion of 2012 from the time-honoured “second Saturday of the year” to the first..on the reasonable ground that Saturday 14th January is slightly too far into the New Year to satisfy our traditional desire to walk off some of the excesses of the festive season (the first Saturday of the year often being far too close to the festivities to accommodate would be walkers who have retreated from London for the duration).

But the disruptive ploy worked : 16 walkers gathered at Richmond station (joined for a time by an unknown American who was looking for “Justin’s party” also meeting at Richmond station at 10.30am, of which there was no sign; perhaps—on reflection--he was Canadian).

The weather was ideal for winter rambling, maybe too balmy for the season. Alan had devised a walk that took us along the plush delights of Richmond Green, then along the Thames under the Bridge, past Eel Pie Island and lots of river people also working off Christmas excess, and then inland to Ham House, built 1620 and a remarkable survival. Globally warmed, we took coffee out of doors, in the garden which the National Trust is now striving to restore to its 17th century glory.

path                                   bridge                      

                       Thames path                                                                                                                     on the river - Richmond Bridge    

canoe                            boat

                  On the river - canoe woman                                                                                                      On the river - seven men and a boat

eel pie                                                             on to

                       Eel Pie Island                                                                                                                                   Off to Ham House

ham1                                pineapple

                                        Ham House                                                                                              Fruity - Ham House pineapple 

arch                                                          slice

                    Ham House arch                                                                                                                               another slice of Ham 

 coffee    This coffee break was designed to allow us to saunter across parkland to arrive bang on time at the Hand and Flower at a long table thoughtfully booked by Alan.          

 

 

 

 

 

                Holly and ramblers at Ham House    

claim    The strong publicity claims outside were confirmed by the excellent lunch (including good puddings and lovely beer called Rosy Dozy or something, I forget now). Dean Martin’s boozy observation chimed withdean at least some of us.

The meal afforded us the sole chance of a blurry group photo. This traditional snap will be improved on subsequent 2012 walks when Annie returns from Australia, since she is the master of the group pic.

luncheon

 

After lunch the parkish walk continued with a traditional moment of uncertainly about directions until we entered Richmond Common, a gentle climb through very open woodland to the deer-infested savannah at the top. Then back along a ridge past Pembroke Lodge, with its charming grave for the dog Boy, and its beneficence to the ever-increasing host of parakeets now taking residence in London’s commonses.

 

 off we go   souls    alan

                          Off we go                                                                                              Lost souls                                               The man who knows the way

parakeets                parakeets                  dog

            Fat parakeets                                                                Pembroke Lodge                                                               Good boy! It's a dog's death 

deer   go again

                                               Deer oh deer                                                                                              Phew, here we go again 

common                trees1

                                        Across Richmond Common                                                                                                     Trees and the river 

The final urban stretches took us past the vista of the Thames seen from Richmond Hill (the only view in England protected by Act of Parliament, and quite right too), looking a bit Turneresque in the winter sunset.

sweet

                                                                                                            Sweet Thames of Richmond Hill 

holly                                                                trees2    

                   Richmond 'ill 'olly                                                                                                                                More trees

Back to the station past the extravagant shops of Richmond, curiously clustered in a narrow traditional town centre, and then oh bliss! a train leaving almost at once on the now flourishing North London Line back home to rather less posh Islington as darkness fell.

richmond station                                                                                                                   support

                           Time to go home                                                                                                                                                                                   Thank you for your support       

           

Another terrific start to the year with magnificently accommodating weather, a fascinating route, and Lovely People, as always. Even more L.P. are welcome on the spring walk, tralaa!, which will be on the last Saturday of April. Wonderful weather almost guaranteed. As pedants ought to know already.

Words and pictures by Peter