Almost immediately after setting off, we were on to leafy riverside paths, with the feeling, a falsehood, that we are far removed from civilisation. All week we have been hearing and seeing the shrieking ring-necked parakeets. I had failed to photograph any but again tried, as they are in large numbers along this stretch of the Thames Path. They are an odd addition to Britain’s avifauna, but are now well established. Originating from Asia, they likely first escaped from aviaries, but I prefer the story that they escaped from the film set of The African Queen, at Shepperton, in 1951.

After Kew Bridge, there is a choice of routes. Either follow the north bank, or the south. We chose the latter. Not only did it appear to offer most to see, but it is also more shaded. The river below Teddington lock is tidal and the south bank of the Thames can flood at high tide, but the water was dropping for our walk. It is almost all pleasant walking, with few necessary diversions and good paths throughout. Even the trippy roots had cleared off. But as with previous days, the weather was intense. We kept our pace down, paused frequently and hydrated throughout.

“I got hooked and the Thames Walk became part of my life. I wanted it to happen. I wanted to see something put in place that other people could enjoy“

David Sharp

The Thames Path was the brainchild of David Sharp. He drew the first sketch map of the trail at an inaugural meeting with the River Thames Society in 1973. The Thames Path National Trail officially opened 24 July 1996, with a new guide book to the trail written by the man who fought for it. He died in April 2015 and I had been on the lookout for the trailside memorial bench to him and his wife in Barnes. Sadly, if it was there, I missed it.

It was as hot as yesterday, but with an added mugginess from the humidity. When we reached The Ship at Mortlake, we never even discussed it, but simply turned in. As it was, it was not the best of halts. Beer choice was poor, and for that I had to wait until all the regulars had been served, despite them walking in after me. My small piri piri chicken with salad had the ‘salad’ covered in hot sauce too and it took a couple of miles walking afterward before I started to get any feeling back in my tongue. We know we are well and truly in to the capital now as our simple lunch had a price tag with pretensions.