Monday 29 August - Thames Path

I decided to explore part of the Thames Path. It starts miles away near Lechlade and there is now a path the length of the Thames (184 miles). I take a train to Hampton Court and decide to walk to Richmond. As I find the Thames Path a signpost tells me that it is 29 miles to Tower Bridge; this seems a very long way away. It is early for a bank holiday when I set out and there aren't many people around. Some arriving
for work at Hampton Court, a few runners and dog walkers. There are some fabulous houses - some large, some small but all with gardens that run down to the river and have a jetty.

By 9.30 the cyclists are out. There are bikes and cyclists of all shapes and sizes. It's interesting to see how many families are cycling. Because there are no cars, this is popular for all the family. There are weird and wonderful bikes. Lots of kids have their own bikes but smaller children are stashed in sidecars or seats on the back of bikes. There are a few who seem to sit on the cross bar with feet in what looks like some version of a dustpan. Viewed from the front, the child seems to be sitting
under the protective breast of the parent, like a broody hen with her chicks peering out from under her.

As ever, the world gets going around 11am. At 10.30 there are relatively few people around. By 11 the place is thronging with people. I stop in Kingston for a cup of coffee. It's another town re-developed around the chains. Everything seems perfectly pleasant but the shopping mall looks and feels like every other new mall. High roofs, light and bright. Multifloored with balconies to maximise the light. Everywhere looks like this, and has the same shops. To add to a general sense of confusion I realise that this 'everywhere shopping mall' reminds me of GUM, the department store in Moscow.

The market square is also filled with chain stores but look up and there are plenty of older buildings. Some go back to the 15th century. The shop fronts look pretty much all the same but above them the architecture changes and takes you back through the centuries.There is the usual mix of old and new, but very few independent shops. But it's busy and little sign of recession here.

From Kingston I follow the river north. More cyclists, a few runners but running seems to be an early date and the numbers of runners are falling, just as the numbers of cyclists increase. It's now classic bank holiday mood. There are lots of kids and parents (a few grandparents here and there) and the cycling density increases. This is a non traffic route and so a prime route for parents keen to encourage their kids to cycle. There are varying degrees of enthusiasm from the kids.

The river is as busy as the pathway and with an equal range of people drifting up and down the river. There are gin palaces travelling at speed and smaller boats traveling more slowly. There are rowers, canoeists, and some form of multi-person canoe which looks as if it should be on a Pacific island and not the river Thames. Every couple of minutes someone shouts and they change paddles.

As I get close to Richmond there are more and more people. All keen to make the most of the late summer sunshine. Most are eating and drinking and keeping the economy turning. Little sign of recession here.