Walk to work, I dare you

Somehow I hauled myself out of bed one and a half hours earlier than normal this morning to walk to work (It's Walk to Work Week, you know). I chose a scenic route along the Thames.

2 hours, 15 minutes and 139 photographs later I arrived at work.

I checked Google Maps which told me I walked a total of 6.61 miles and it should have taken 2 hours 14 minutes. I was quite chuffed considering I'm injured at the moment. I also felt invigorated, although unsure how long that would last.

As cyclists shot past me within the first 10 minutes on Clapham Road, I felt a flicker of jealousy. Then I had to deal with the temptation of Stockwell station. I learned pretty quickly that I'm no speed walker. In fact during the entire walk the only person I overtook (with a certain amount of triumph) turned out to be heavily pregnant.

As I watched the hordes of cyclists setting off from Stockwell station junction, I felt some satisfaction that I was, for once, not one of them. I could enjoy a little peace and admire my surroundings....

 ..the little things one can miss on bike, bus or tube. 

The next temptation to give up and hit public transport was Vauxhall. But the traffic congestion and flood of people waiting for the tube and buses encouraged me to keep on walking. The massive solar panel above the bus station does look pretty cool - although it always makes me think of a ski jump, as if Eddie the Eagle will come flying through the air at any moment.

I reached the Thames at last. I couldn't believe the colour of these trees and the pattern they made against the wall of the north shore of the Thames. I got carried away with the camera at this point.

I loved the shadow on Parliament. It made me think of the Coalition for some reason - maybe something to do with the AV referendum, dark times, coalition glooms?

"Are we nearly there yet?" Not even half way.

Then lo and behold, there was a beach. Well, sand was laid out along South Bank and there were beach huts and everything. The Southbank's latest exhibition was a pleasant surprise.

By the time I got to the real Southbank beach where the seagulls were screeching and the Thames was gently lapping on the shore, I really felt like I was on holiday. Then I looked up and saw the city. Onwards to work, time was ticking by.

The Silver Birches outside Tate Modern looked amazing in the sunshine.

A short pause at St Paul's to deliberate over which bridge to cross. I chose Southwark - less chance of getting lost in the city, which is a frustrating habit of mine.

I barely got my camera out in the city. I was running late for work at this point and nothing really caught my eye after the excitement of the river.

I arrived at the office, having texted my team in advance to warn them of my impending arrival. It wasn't the welcome party I felt I deserved (I would have appreciated a medal instead of a few laughs and mutterings of disbelief) but it was worth it.

Amelia Collins, Creative Communications Team