The Grand Finale!
Day 24: Cutty Sark to Woolwich Foot Tunnel
Today was the Grand Finale to the Thames Path Relay, celebrating 30 years of the Thames Path National Trail opening at the Thames Barrier in July 1996.
We hosted a superb group of walkers led by the wonderful Jackie from West London Ramblers.
The relay was finished in style by Cllr David Gardner, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, who after walking with us accepted the Acorn Baton at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, the official end to the Thames Path National Trail.
Thanks to the opening of the King Charles III England Coast Path in recent years, walkers can now continue on to the sea at Grain, making the Thames Path a truly Source to Sea National Trail.
The Thames Path Relay started on 5 June at the Source of the River Thames in Trewsbury Mead when Dame Fiona Reynolds, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, handed the Acorn Baron to Paul Flynn to lead the first leg of the 24-day celebration of the Thames Path National Trail. Over the past 24 days we've covered the 185.2 mile route and walked with dozens of wonderful people who love the River Thames and the Thames Path. We've listened to poetry, admired a new mural, met lovely lock-keepers and Mayors, and had hundreds of conversations - everyone has been so friendly!
Huge 'Thank You' to all the walk leaders who gave their time, enthusiasm and energy to this celebration - we quite literally could not have done it without you!
The Thames Path Relay has been run as a collaboration with Drinkable Rivers and Mayors for a Drinkable Thames, and we'd also like to extend a massive thanks to them for their support during the last month, and in the run up to the relay starting.
Picture 1: Start of day 24 at the Cutty Sark
Picture 2: Walkers striding out through London
Picture 3: Thames Path Manager Hannah (centre) with our collaborators Li-An (left) and James (right) from Drinkable Rivers.
Picture 4: The end! Walkers reach the final point of the Thames Path at Woolwich foot tunnel.
