Stephen and Lucy's websiteLuphen1200709232007-09-23T19:50:00Z2007-09-23T19:50:00ZNorth Downs Way
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/north_downs_way/wrotham_rochester.htm
" title="George on the North Downs Way."
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-09-23-123312_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="George on the North Downs Way."
/></a> <p>
With Lucy taking Henry to another dog show in Maidstone, Stephen and George went for a third walk along part of the North Downs Way, being dropped off in the village of Wrotham, sandwiched between the M20 and M26, and walking to the Medway at Rochester.
</p>
200709162007-09-17T20:30:00Z2007-09-14T20:30:00ZCrossness Pumping Station
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/public/2007/2007crossness_pumping_station.htm
" title="Part of the Octagon and the Prince Consort steam engine during a visit to the Crossness sewage pumping station."
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-09-16-145504_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Part of the Octagon and the Prince Consort steam engine during a visit to the Crossness sewage pumping station."
/></a> <p>
On a pleasant Sunday afternoon (reported to be the last day of summer, weather-wise) it was off to an usual destination, the Crossness Pumping Station, which formerly pumped sewage from the southern outfall sewers into the Thames.
</p>
200708312007-09-14T20:30:00Z2007-09-14T20:30:00ZCyprus
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/public/2007/2007cyprus.htm
" title="Kelefos Bridge on the Diarizos river during a week in Cyprus"
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-09-07-143011_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Kelefos Bridge on the Diarizos river during a week in Cyprus"
/></a> <p>
What with one thing and another, it was three years since we'd last been to Cyprus, and a Friday afternoon saw us happily arriving in Pissouri, where seven other members of the family awaited our arrival.
</p>
200708272007-08-27T20:30:00Z2007-08-27T20:30:00ZThames Path - Maidenhead to Windsor
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/thames_path/maidenhead_windsor.htm
" title="Windsor Castle from Brocas Meadow"
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-27-123819_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Windsor Castle from Brocas Meadow"
/></a> <p>
A pleasant August Bank Holiday Monday saw Stephen and George take another walk along the Thames Path, today from Maidenhead to Windsor.
</p>
200708262007-08-27T19:30:00Z2007-08-27T19:30:00ZNew River - St Margarets to Broxbourne
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/new_river/2-st_margarets_broxbourne.htm
" title="Henry by the New River"
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-26-154120_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Henry by the New River"
/></a> <p>
A shortish afternoon walk was in order, and Henry and Stephen continued on from their walk three weeks ago with another walk south along the New River.
</p>
200708192007-08-20T07:30:00Z2007-08-20T07:30:00ZNorth Downs Way - Thurnham to Dunn Street
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/north_downs_way/coldblow_dunnstreet.htm
" title="George on the North Downs Way"
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-19-143837_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="George on the North Downs Way"
/></a> <p>
With Lucy taking Henry and Ellie to a dog show in Maidstone, Stephen and George went for a second walk along part of the North Downs Way. The weather forecast was poor, but a decision was made to go anyway and hope for the best. We walked east along the Pilgrims Way from Thurnham, northeast of Maidstone, to Dunn Street, northwest of Ashford.
</p>
200708122007-08-12T20:00:00Z2007-08-12T20:00:00ZIsle of Wight Steam Railway
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/public/2007/2007isle_of_wight_steam_railway.htm
" title="The 1321 departure from Smallbrook Junction arrives at Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway
"><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-12-132902_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="The 1321 departure from Smallbrook Junction arrives at Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway
"/></a> <p>
Today we took a day trip to the Isle of Wight by railway and catamaran ferry for a ride on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and just generally a day out. Despite some frustrations with ticketing and inaccurate information, the day went very smoothly and we had a good time.
</p>
200708112007-08-11T20:00:00Z2007-08-11T20:00:00ZThames Path - Chertsey to Kingston
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/thames_path/chertsey_kingston.htm
" title="Shepperton Lock from Shepperton ferry
"><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-11-131744_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Shepperton Lock from Shepperton ferry
"/></a> <p>
With another very warm summer's day beckoning, Lucy took Henry and Ellie to a dog show in Chertsey in Surrey, which provided the opportunity for Stephen and George to resume their acquaintance with the Thames Path, talking a walk downstream from Chertsey to Kingston, meeting a section already walked.
</p>
20070805a2007-08-05T21:00:00Z2007-08-05T21:00:00ZNew River - Hertford to St Margarets
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/new_river/1-hertford_st_margarets.htm
" title="Broadmead Pumping Station
"><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-05-120748_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Broadmead Pumping Station
"/></a> <p>
The New River, as is commonly pointed out almost every time it is written about, is neither new nor a river (there, I've done it too). It is an aqueduct originally built between 1609 and 1613 to carry clean water from Hertfordshire to north London. After a longish walk yesterday with George on the North Downs Way, the flat New River Path seemed a good choice for a shorter and easier walk on a day when temperatures were predicted to reach 29 degrees.
</p>
20070804a2007-08-04T21:00:00Z2007-08-10T15:18:00ZNorth Downs Way - Rochester to Coldblow
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/north_downs_way/rochester_coldblow.htm
" title="George on the North Downs Way"
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-08-04-111335_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="George on the North Downs Way"
/></a> <p>
With Lucy taking Ellie to a dog show in Hoo near Rochester in Kent, Stephen and George took advantage of a lift, for a walk along part of the North Downs Way. The North Downs Way runs for 201km from Farnham to Dover (or 211km if you take the alternative route via Canterbury), and while a couple of fragments have been visited before, this was the first proper walk along the route. We walked south and east from Rochester to Coldblow Lane near Thurnham.
</p>
200707282007-07-28T21:00:00Z2007-07-28T21:00:00ZBen Dawson
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/public/2007/2007benjamin_william_dawson.htm
" title="Ben in the garden
"><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-07-28-153650_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Ben in the garden
"/></a> <p>
With Mark and Debbie going to a wedding in London, we gladly agreed to play host to Ben once more. It is only three weeks since we last saw him, during the Suffolk birthday cruise, and he continues to grow up.
</p>
200707222007-07-22T21:00:00Z2007-07-22T21:00:00ZRegent's Canal
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/walks/grand_union_canal_walk/regents_canal.htm
" title="Ellie on the Regent's Canal by London Zoo"
><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-07-22-132605_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Ellie on the Regent's Canal by London Zoo"
/></a> <p>
After a gap of a couple of months, caused by some busy weekends and some horrible "summer" weather, Stephen managed to find a free slot with dry weather today for a walk, this time with Ellie for company. Today, we continue along the Regent's Canal from the junction with the Hertford Union Canal, a point we reached during our April walk around the east London canals.
</p>
200707082007-07-08T23:00:00Z2007-07-08T23:00:00ZWimbledon
<a href="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/public/2007/2007wimbledon.htm
" title="Centre Court at Wimbledon
"><img src="
http://www.luphen.org.uk/indeximages/2007-07-08-181347_small.jpg
" width="300" height="225"
alt="Centre Court at Wimbledon
"/></a> <p>
This year we were lucky enough to win tickets in the Wimbledon ticket draw again, and this time for Centre Court on the final Sunday - though that luck meant that this year's visit cost £87 each! After 10 days of rain, wondering if we would see any play at all, or if we would end up with quarter or semi finals, the skies cleared and the originally planned Men's final and Mixed Doubles final were planned for Centre Court.
</p>