Distance - 78 Miles
Start Point - Woolwich Dockyard Station
Start Date - 04/04/2011
Finish Point - Woolwich Arsenal DLR
Finish Date - 28/09/2013
Geocaches Found - 43
The Best Section - Phase 6 - Richmond Park during the rutting season and arriving in town at nightfall
The Worst Section - Phase 14 - Two attempts, with the Greenway being closed on the first attempt. Then to find out the nicely monikered path is actually the Northern Outfall Sewer. And it didn't smell like a Greenway.
The Phases (Click on the Phase Hyper link for Walk details)
Summary
So, three summers in the making, I finally come to the end of the Capital Ring. It's been emotional. Made a change from walking the inner city streets, although less likely to help me gain "The Knowledge".
The footpaths were that well signed posted that you only need the GPS for finding the caches. With the amount of greenery in Central London, it shouldn't have been a surprise as to how wild this was walk was in places. If it wasn't for the commute on public transport, I could have been anywhere.
There were many highlights - Richmond Park, Stoke Newington, Highgate and a few low lights - the canals of West London and the unforgettable experience that was the Greenway.
So what next for London. How about the Outer London Loop - 150 miles in the distant suburbs of London?
This is it. There must be a German word for the feeling of sadness that you get when you complete one of your goals in life. This has taken me three summers and with 2013 Summer nearly at an end, I have to make a weekend trip to complete.
Train ticket prices are ridiculously cheap on the weekend - 10% of those costs of a weekday if you book in advance. I can even have a relative lie in - getting a discount ticket on the 8am from Birmingham International.
The train steadily fills up. I feel left out that I have neither a piecing or a tattoo. And yes, my merrily adorned fellow travelers are all drinking cider for breakfast.
Arrive at Euston, tube to Bank and then the DLR to Royal Albert. Not bad for a man without a Prince Albert.
Stage 14 wasn't the best and I'm not sure about this final stage. What will it hold?
All Coming to an end
First stage is easy enough walking, across the two Beckton Parks. Park 1 has a football, Park 2 has rugby. Then I cut inside the University of East London grounds and have a nice walk alongside Royal Albert Dock.
Royal Albert Dock - Airport Behind.
Plenty to look at. Planes taking off from the opposite airport. Rowers in the water. Topless joggers. Shame they were blokes.
At Gallions Reach, there is a cache that is a short distance off route. I have plenty of time to kill before my cheap train back, so go for it. An adventurous walk across waste ground, with signs of people living rough and then it works out that I am on the wrong level. Cue a run across a dual carriageway, clamber up a bank and climb over a crash barrier. Anything for a smiley.
Get back on my route proper, past a factory and hit the Thames, grabbing a cache under a bench. The river will be my left hand friend all the way back to Woolwich.
Tower at the Thames
Tide is out. This will be handy for later.
Two caches at the lock entrances to the Dock. This is spooky walking. Derelict, overgrown, signs of an industrial past and absolutely no people around.
The third cache along this stretch needs the Thames to be out, so that I can drop down to the foreshore. Fortunately, I have timed it perfectly.
Down the ramp and back up the ladder
One more cache in Royal Victoria gardens and then I am at the end of my odyssey. The only question to be answered is whether to take the foot tunnel or the free ferry.
It's just pulling in, so would be rude not to.
Would have missed the view of Canary Wharf
After no people all the way on this leg, I hit the main street of Woolwich on a Saturday afternoon. Quite a contrast.
But I bet that Columbus, Cook and Polo did not have such a welcome at the end of their adventures.
I am back on the Capital Ring. Almost a month ago to the day, I was thwarted in my attempts to complete this leg by the Greenway being closed for maintenance. I am back today, following the same familiar streets (hello garage, hello bagel bakery, hello canal) and do the half mile to the start of the Greenway again.
My heart sinks, as at first, I think it is shut again. Its not, its just very difficult to get into.
The hardest Path to follow
But just what is this enigmatic Greenway that has been put between me and success? Once on top, it offers fine views of the Olympic Stadium and its a long, straight concrete path reminding me of a disused railway line.
A look on the OS map reveals why there is an odd odour in the air. It is the Northern Outfall Sewer. Most of London's sewage goes along this 6 mile pipe to where it is treated before emptying into the Thames. And trust me - a times, the smell leaves you in no doubt.
After 13 stages of this Capital Ring, I have a horrible suspicion that this is going to peter out to unnecessary misery.
At least there is an unobstructed view of the Olympic Stadium.
West Ham Sign should point at it
Few mad cyclists tear-arsing along at break neck speed. Not much to look at but we do hit confusion at a place where you can "View the Tube". ViewTube, if you will.
The sign is a lie. Just more tarmac and whiffs
It all gets a bit confusing here. The Greenway is now shut again but only for a short while. What starts off as a signposted diversion ends with walking through a complex building site. I come out at Stratford High Street and cross the four lanes of the a dual carriageway, back on Turd Tarmac.
I'm afraid its all plod city from now on. There are minor distractions of views of Canary Wharf - and behind me to the city but the only architectural delight is a pumping station.
My Favourite "E" T-Shirt
Used as an Asylum in one of the Batman movies
This goes on and on, through Plaistow and I leave the Pong Path at Beckton Park. I attempt a cache at the City Zoo - but at 8pm, its all been locked up for several hours.
The train back is from Royal Albert Dock. No place for refreshment but views over the City Airport.
When I get back, I check out the final stage and find that its only 4 miles.
I probably should have tagged it on to this. I have a feeling the final furlong it will smell sweeter but be equally uninspiring. A sad end to what has so far been a superb adventure
Phase 14 of the Capital Ring is planned. There are a disappointing number of caches on route - a grand total of 1.
Slightly more epic than usual train ride on the Jubilee Line and Overground and I am back at the Hackney Wick Badlands and a short stroll to the Olympic Stadium and the canal. There is a lot of work going on - obviously getting it ready for the Irons new home - so a photo of the stadium would have be obscured by the scaffolding.
Surprisingly pretty down here.
Not too Shabby for a canalside walk
Move on and get to the Greenway, which is a long strecth of my anticipated walk. There is a gate. The gate is locked. There is a sign. Oh Bugger.
It had to be today, didnit it.
Don't worry, I am an explorer. But what to do now then? Scaling the fence is not an option. I look at the Map - looks like I will be getting more than 1 cache after all. I can follow the Lee Navigation and pick up quite a few on route to Canning Town.
So its all canal/river side walking today. The caches come quick and fast and in the main are easy to find.
I only have one problem - a cache hidden in the wall that is guarded by muggle fishermen. I try and discreetly put my head in the foilage but I cannot have a good look. Looks like I will have to leave this one - even if it does put a nasty unsmiley in the middle of trail on the Geocaching Map.
Architecturally, Three Mills is the highlight of the walk. This is the largest tidal mil in the UK. Geocaching is educational.
Wanna See the Biggest Tidal Mill in the UK? You Got It.
Next up on interesting places is Bow Locks, with a nice view over Canary Wharf, but its here that the river and the canal part ways. And the towpath is not taking me to Canning Town after all.
River or Canal - The choice is nealy mine. Except the River has no path
Check the map and I can head into the heart of EastEnders country and pick up the DLR back into town.
One last cache and then, as there so frequently is, an end of walk hostelry to quench my thirst. This is the sort of thing that I love. When I get back home a couple of days later - a book that I ordered called the "strangest pubs in britain" arrives. On the cover is this very pub - all because the woman that used to own the building lost a son in the navy. She baked a hot cross bun for his return and when he never came back, continued to do this every easter. After it was turned into a pub, a tradition developed where a sailor would arrive at easter with a bun - which is added to the pile in a net suspended from the roof.
I had no idea whilst in there.
Oddly Named Pub
Looks like I will be back in Hackney Wick to have another crack at Stage 14.
Another night in London, leaving late to start this, the shortest section of the Capital Ring to date. The journey is a touch on the epic - tube to Liverpool Street and then overground to Stoke Newington, with the straggler commuters who look like they have had enough already. Still, it is a Thursday.
Simple walk today - we have around half a mile of streets - with ominous signs warning of potential muggings. Still, if it does happen, it will be on CCTV. I can always add it to the blog.
I appear to still be in the Jewish section of London - passing a Jewish School and a lot of men in natty full length coats and black hats. The weather is not good, prompting some to wear shower caps on top of their hats. Natty. Maybe I should have brought mine from the hotel for added protection from the wind and the rain.
I quickly walk through Springfield Park. I spoke last week with a Cockerney (well, he was from Yorkshire but lives down here). He says that Springfield Park is the finest in all of London. Its nice enough, but I dont think Regents, Hyde or St James have much to worry about.
Best Park in London?
A quick drop through the park brings me to the River Lea. At least this is what it says on the OS map. On the local signs, it seems to be called the Lee Navigation. I am sticking with Lea. There a lot of very well maintained micro caches along the route.
If you look really close, you can see the cache.
Cross over and I just have to follow the water all the way down to the Olympic Stadium and the end of Stage 13.
When setting out on this quest, I did set the rules that no pub shall be passed. This had to be compromised today, as the first of the day is slighty out of reach.
So Near, Yet so Far Away
I continue down to a bring that brings me onto the Pub Side. It looks like the locals didn't fully embrace the Olympics.
No Need for That
This side of the water does have a pub. All the hunting for 35mm film pots has meant the night is rapidly encroaching. Do I break my own rule and walk on by?
As well as letting myself down, it would be treasonous
It's a horrible gastro pub, so I should have probably have walked on by. Down my pint in ultra rapid fashion and get back to the caches.
The walk runs next to Hackney Marshes - legendary site of the most football pitches in one place in the world. You can only imagine the shouts of "can we have our ball back?" on a Sunday.
Only one ball on the pitch at a time
All that remains is to get the next couple of caches from under the noses of a new type of traveller who have setup home in a long stream of ramshackle barges along the water edge. The towpath is littered with makeshift BBQs and a fair amount of party evidence.
I know that I am at the end when I reach the Olympic Stadium. Impressive sight. The short walk to Hackney Wick Station shows how much renovation has been brought to the area.
The next Upton Park
Nothing in the Hackney Wick area for post walk sustenance. Not even a pub. So train / tube back to Southwark, glad to be out of the elements.
Hurrah for British Summer Time... Although you would not know it when you are out and about and blast of the easterly hits you. The day after this walk, I was in a snowstorm in Central London. But we do have light evenings and I can resume my 3 year plan of completing the Capital Ring.
Highgate station is only a few stops up from where I am located and if you look at the Everytrail Map closely, you can see that I am having a lot of trouble actually getting going on the right track. There are green arrows to get me on my way, but somehow, I manage to loop around on myself.
The start of this section is the disused Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace railway line, which ran from 1867 to 1970. The Capital Ring guide book suggests that it is a haven for wild life... in reality, its a haven for muggles with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists getting in my way. Hanging around here waiting for a find made me feel like a cross between a rent boy and a drug dealer. Alas, an unsuccessful one as I wasn't propositioned for anything.
This is the Parkland Walk - your friend for the next three miles
There are 8 Geocaches down this stretch. A couple had recent DNF recorded against them, so I didn't look too hard. They were all quite straightforward but did require clambering up banks, sticking my hands in places I didnt really want to and lying of the floor at times. And man, muggles on bikes don't half come at you fast. Only one was too wet to sign, so I took a photo as evidence.
Soggy Loggy
Disappointingly - and despite there being a cache named after it - I missed the Parkland Walk Spriggan. Do a "Google Image" on it. I must spend more time with my eyes open for things other than tupperware. Quite apt as a cache custodian, mind.
We reach the end of the railway line at Finsbury Park. The hoodies are merely keep fit fanatics - so I didn't need to hold my geopen ninja style. We cross this to reach a great piece of advertising - "The New River". What is it with Cockney's bigging everything up? It's a canal.
New River, My Aris
Follow this on a dodgy Towpath, which is no doubt called "an aquatic walkway", looping around the East and West Reservoirs - with good views over Central London in the distance.
Stokey Church in foreground - The Shard in the distance
Picking up Green Lanes at Clissold Park is the start of civilisation. There is a castle, a too poncey for words pub and the evidence of urban crime and red tape.
Reasonably Sinister - in fact a climbing centre
I mean really - is anyone going to claim a no wheeled, no seated bike?
There is also a very busy Capital Ring sign, that shows me that the quest is nearly coming to an end.
13.5 Miles to get back to the start.....
Clissold Park is rather pretty and brings me out to the foot of the spired church and into Church Street, Stoke Newington. There is an ambundance of eateries, pubs and too trendy for words outlets. With darkness falling (and a locked cemetary gate stopping a final cache), there is only one place to go.
Fear and panic, the like of which has not been seen since millenium bug debacle, has closed London for business during the Olympics. This means that my opportunities of continuing this epic journey whilst staying down for business have been curtailed by an event that has had people cheering for sports they don't even know the rules to. At least the ceremonies were good. Apart from Muse.
So to meet my plans of completing 5 stages per BST year, I head down to London on a Saturday, making the most of my time there and completing two stages in one day.
Bargain tickets can be booked, provided you don't mind an early start and I am on the 7am from Birmingham International. As soon as I leave the station, I am up at the shop for a wake me up cup of coffee. The bloke behind is buying a can of Stella. It truly is compulsory to drink on a train, regardless of the time.
And he is not the only one. Two Polish fellas get on at Rugby and noisily get stuck into jumbo bottles of Heineken. They then annoy the carriage by playing Belgian trance music dead loud and shouting at each other. I am googling the Polish for "Excuse me gents, but could you keep it down" when the ticket inspector comes.
It would appear as they have only London Midland Tickets... invalid for a Virgin Train.
There is probably a German word for the descent of silence that hits a carriage when its apparent that an almighty row is going to break out between angry commuters and an officious inspector. Great entertainment and after they had paid their £47 each fines, they were less inclined to rock out to technotronic.
I arrive at Euston, having gone through South Kenton Station, needing to get a chug-a-long back up the line.
Saturday - Early - Consfused
This train is full of sweary northerners who are down for the Rugby between Leeds and Warrington. Come back my jiggy poles, all is forgiven.
Arrive at 9am and have a walk through houses and Preston Park. Stop to pick up a bacon sarnie at Preston Road tube station and eat it walking down the street, climbing the hill in the first bit of countryside at Barn Hill.
From certain angles, I am ace at hide and seek
Get to the top and I am rewarded with an unexpected trig point and great views over the home of our profane egg chasers.
Take a small detour to get the first cache of the day and am rewarded with a TB. Drop mine off in its place. Then its out into Fryent Country Park. For the first time on this extended walk, the green signs let me down and I take a circuitous route to the top of the hill.
A small amount of road walking and I am on the eastern shore of Brent Reservoir. Nice walking and manage to get a micro cache inbetween the muggle dog walkers.
Waterside
Cross the M1 and I have some lengthy road walking in the Jewish part of London. The Synagogue is marked on the map, and because it is Sabbath, everyone is on their way there.
Despite a decent enough stretch down by a stream and through the nice houses of Hampstead Garden Suburb, this is dull walking. I've also been at it for three hours and the 2 litres of rubbery tasting water from the camelpak is not as good as a nice pint.
HGS is lovely, but seems to be a dry village. I even have a look up the main streets, but can only find furniture shops. Then, like a mirage, the White Lion appears around the corner from East Finchley Station.
Despite the shoulder tube, I am dryer than Ghandi's flip flop
Suitably refreshed, I am off again, getting two caches and hitting the superior walking of Highgate and Queens Woods. Exceptional walking area and I am just getting the final cache of the day when the forecasted storm starts off. Oh well, the trees offer some cover and to be fair, it was meant to be like this all the way around.
Before the Rain
At 2pm, the walk is comes to an end at Highgate Tube station. I am starving and decide to scale the heights to see if there is a pub close by. Even better than that, there's one at the top and its got the football on. The menu offers a chop. Lord Lucan only ever ate chops and if its good enough for him, then its good enough for me.
So, after two years and assuming I don't get the sunlight to do another stage, I am 11/15 of the way through. Back in 2013.
Last time I was on the Capital Ring, it was the Manchester Derby at the end of April. Seems like an age ago.
Journey to Greenford was hard work. You cannot transport cattle in the conditions that I experienced on the Circle Line to Paddington. There was an announcement to say it was all our fault, as someone had left a suspicious package earlier in the day resulting overcrowding. Pick up the overline on an equally crowded train and arrive 30 minutes later. Just as it starts raining.
After passing the home of the sizzling skillet, I pick up the path along the Paddington Canal. After that journey, I cannot believe how little distance I have travelled.
How did 8 miles take 30 mins?
The WTF caches are back in evidence. First one is missed, as there is a fisherman on the other side of the canal. 2nd one found. 3rd one ruined by a couple gassing at GZ. Honestly, have these people got nothing better to do?
Then I have a stiff climb up Horsenden Hill. Its only 84m but offers decent views over Heathrow and more limited views over the City.
Beginning to realise I am a silver fox
Drop down for some very uninsipiring walking around Sudbury. This really is Little Poland. We have Polish Grocers, restaurants and gangs of poles hanging around drinking out of polish lager cans on street corners.
A minor detour to pick up a cache at Sudbury Hill station and then continue through this depressing inner city ramble in rain, questioning why I am bothering.
The answer is revealed as I arrive at Harrow on the Hill. What a delight. Lovely architecture and stunning views over London. Dominated by the schools, shops selling school related produce and two impressive churches. All it needed to make it complete was a decent looking pub. Alas, only restaurants.
There were good views of the City in the gap in the trees.
Spirits lifted, I drop down through the Harrow school playing fields, to skirt a hospital and golf complex, with Wembley coming into view.
Grass Roots Football
Arrive at South Kenton tube. Disappointed that there doesn't appear to be anywhere for refreshment. But on the other side of the tunnel, I find a pub that I have seen many times on the Birmingham - London approach.
Full of drunk Irish Builders
You have to stick with the London Ring - sometimes it's underwelming and often, it reveals some treasures.
Distance - 5.3 Miles
Caches - 17, but only found 4 :-)
Pubs - 1, but strategically located at the end
Start - Boston Manor
End - Greenford
Well another day working down in London and weather decent enough that I can walk with my fleece wrapped around my waist.
A bit of a trek to get back to Boston Manor, as I am currently hotelled up in Camden. I am also on a time limit, as the premiership decider is being played out tonight and I cannot miss this.
I have high hopes for the walk, as once planned and uploaded as a route on www.geocaching.com, 17 caches are revealed on route. But all is not as it seems as some of them involve climbing trees, and using the underside of bridges as monkey bars. I'll do anything for the love of caching, but I won't do that.
I come to a conclusion today that although canals provide flat easy walking, usually with plenty of pubs, they are as dull as ditchwater. A large part of the walk has the grand union canal to my left and the River Brent to my right. And it just goes on and on.
At least the caches take my mind of things... and I have an ammo box Travel Bug hotel for my first find of the night. Impressed.
Better than the usual film cannister!
After all the industrial units, Hanwell church is the only impressive building on the walk, peeping out through the trees. The recent rainfall stops the cache at Hanwell, as its in the roof of the bridge and there is a small problem.
Not in these shoes
The canals turn into the green spaces of Perivale Park. Next geocache is blocked by a man drinking special brew, with two staffies on a lead, sat at GZ. Yet another in long list of excuses that I am using today.
Next architectural highlight is the roof of Wembley poking out over the horizon. I haven't looked at the next leg but hoping it gets close.
Roy's new home - Albion won't make it now.
Then its across the A40 and into Greendford. Made it with 5 mins to spare and get the last seat in a busy pub. We're in London, so they are all in Man Utd tops. I need something to eat amongst my new footie mates so order the chicken wings and ribs combo. It is delivered on a sizzling skillet, sending plumes of spicy smoke up in front of the TV. I'm sure the evil looks are simply because they only have crisps with their stella.
Good game and then head back to Amy's borough, having confirmed train times from my support network back at home.
Nice easy walk to start off 2012's continuation of the Capital Ring. I am completing this when I am down in London with work, having to go out whatever the weather. Today, we had a monsoon, which required some sheltering under bridges during the worst of it.
Down to Richmond. I have complained about the lack of pubs on previous stages of this walk. They are all hiding in this section. I cannot stop in Richmond, but there is a particularly pretty one after you cross the green and reach the river.
Too Early for the White Swan
Press on, but in hindsight, I should have gone in as I end up hiding under the bridge for 15 mins, along with a couple of hoodies, during the worst of the rain. Entertained by a man commuting on a unicycle. Only in London.
Cross the Lock. There is a cache here, but too many places for it to be hiding. Don't spend too long, as I look like a potential suicide.
DNF - Hardly surprising. Avoid bridge caches.
Turn right and follow the river up to the ancient hamlet of Isleworth. There are several more pubs on the way, the pick being the London Apprentice - dating from Tudor times. Alas, I press on, taking in a cache on a Plague Pit in the church's boneyard. Every one has a story.
I am accompanied by the roar of the planes coming down into Heathrow. As pretty as this place is, there is no way I could live here. It would send you mad. No more apparent than when crossing Syon Park. You can see them all stacked up in a row, ready to drop down.
Nice house, shame about the noise pollution
Pick up the canal at Brentwood. This is where all the caches live in two series - one is based on the alphabet and the other is based on "Water to Follow" theme. The alphabet ones are very hard. To give you an idea, I think you need a canoe to get one of them. Struggle with about a 50% success rate.
OK stretch of walking, taking in boat sheds, weirs and complex canal navigations before emerging at Boston Manor. As per the end of stage 1, there is a loveley harverster awaiting me. If only they had the Chelsea Barca game on.
