National Walk Day

Although I had enjoyed seeing the insides of all these buildings with the Open House London initiative I decided it was time to say goodbye to Openhouse London 2004. Besides, today was National Walk Day and I had to go and join the ITV organized walks leaving from Russell Square finishing at Trafalgar Square with the Prince?s Trust London at Your Feet Celebration ? a festival showcasing the talents of ?young people whose lives it has helped turn around?. Our walk took us along the path of the Jubilee Walk though the British Museum (this was a bit strange but I must remember to go back and visit) and via Covent Garden and Holburn: a total of 4,217 steps. The aim of the event was to get Londoners to take 2 million steps which apparently is the same as walking the length of the UK. By the time we reached Trafalgar Square it was late afternoon but I still managed to catch part of Big Brovaz performing.

Thames Festival

From Trafalgar Square to South Bank for the Mayor?s Thames Festival my weary feet took me. Music, food, street theatre, craft stalls and funfair rides dotted the banks of the Thames River and whilst most people were in good spirits and were highly energetic ? unfortunately by this time I was dog-tired and though I was trying to motivate myself to hang around for the Night Carnival and the fireworks (put on by the same group who did the Athens Olympic I think) to be honest the thought of catching the tube home with all these people was enough to make me turn for home.

It was a good day for walking though (despite only taking 241 steps in three hours at the Bank of England!) with 20,587 steps taken.