Southwark to Rochester: Eltham

a walk for the New Year

I retired from teaching in December 2007.

I felt the need for a rite of passage, something to mark the moment, a way to spend those few days when, summoned by bells, my colleagues would be back at work.

The pilgrimage that Chaucer paints, from Southwark to Canterbury, was the inspiration for this walk. We intend to do the Rochester to Canterbury stretch as an independent but organised walk, so Southwark to Rochester was the plan for January.

I planned the route, with Google and walkit.com, booked the acccommodation, packed my new backpack - a gift from colleagues- and set out ...

Friday, January 4, 2008

Eltham

The town was nice in parts, and, aware of a shorter journey today, I walked around, went into one or two Charity shops – bought Orchard on Fire, by Shena Mackay

Opposite the church, I passed a horse-drawn hearse preparing for a funeral. And a milestone, dating from days when a pedestrian might have needed to know .

Very few churches are open. Saint Lawrence, Sidcup an exception, though I am aware that the parishioners are really waiting to lock up after cleaning, doing the flowers, praying, or whatever. But they let me take my time – a crib like the ones in Cologne – and as we leave I explain what I am doing.