Footway (Still) Closed

The bridge connecting Douglas Footpath to the towpath has been out of action for several months with no sign of that about to change. While I miss being able to use the bridge I also appreciate the scene it makes with the barriers, sign and rain.

Worn out bridge

Earlier this year I noted that the bridge connecting Douglas Footpath to the towpath, constructed in 2008, was starting to show its age, other people noticed too and now it is being repaired. At least I hope it is and it is not just going to be closed for ages because it is unsafe.

Worn bridge

The bridge connecting Douglas Footpath to the towpath was constructed in 2008 and is starting to show its age with part of the surface sloping slightly. It is not yet unsafe or impassable but its days are clearly numbered.

Green bench

I last posted a picture of the entrance to Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts back in July and since then it has gained a neat bench. Clearly not designed for long stays, it has no back or arm rests, it is nonetheless somewhere pleasant to wait for a child.

Please do not tread on me

This decidedly cute sign is on the section of Douglas Footpath that runs parallel to River Lane past Deutsche Schule London where there is a short slope between the path and the school fence.

I will be interested to see what does grow here and welcome the attempt to make this area prettier and more friendly towards wildlife.

Giant pot

The entrance to Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts is marked with a giant pot with hi-vis stripes. It marks a divide in the road with the entrance to the Scouts on the right and Douglas Footpath running off to the left.

High water

There was a time, admittedly about twenty years ago, when I used to seek out high tides 

 and so kept a close eye on the tide tables. These days high tides like this are a surprise to me, as they are to most people trying to move around the area.

This is the footbridge that connected Douglas Footpath with the the tow path and it is sitting just above the water level.
 

As I have said before, the problem with the bridge is that it gets you over one flood only to confront another.

This is the path towards Ham House and while the water level is falling, you can see it streaming across the path, it was still to high for me in my normal street shoes.

  

The other way, towards Richmond was even worse.

I know when I am beaten so I headed back the way that came and took another direction.

Brown submarine

Walking along Douglas Footpath between Deutsche Schule London and Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts takes you past this submarine which is only partially visible through the winter hedge.

It is named after Cornelis Drebbel the Dutch engineer who was the builder of the first operational submarine in 1620.

Closing in on Douglas Footpath

Douglas Footpath (which runs from the towpath to Petersham Avenue between Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts and German School) is quite busy and I had to let quite a few people pass before I could take this photo of the main section. That business justifies some attention to the vegetation on the left which is spreading over the path.

Large gate

Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts has two main entrances at either end of the site providing easy access to boats and large vehicles, but this is another way in. You can see the new hut to the right of the gate which shows that this gate is on to Douglas Footpath.

Gap in the fence

I had last walked behind the German School, it is their fence on the right, a couple of weeks previously and then I had had to clamber over the stile to get to Douglas Footpath. Since then a section of the fence has disappeared removing any barrier between the two paths.

Reflections

This is the rather distinctive German School viewed from Douglas Footpath. I have taken a picture of this section before but that was for the coloured window frames and this time it was for the reflections of the trees.

Narrow path

Douglas Footpath runs between the German School and Ham and Petersham Sea Scouts to connect the towpath with Petersham Avenue. It is a quiet path which is just as well as it is narrow most of the time.

The main section of the path has contrasting boundaries with a high open fence on the German School side and dense foliage on the Sea Scouts side.

Work underway at Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts

Work has started on the new hut for Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts on their site nestled between German School and Petersham Lodge Woods. This view from Douglas Footpath shows the extent of the works and the absence of the old hut.

The view from the end of the access road reveals little more other than some impressive machinery which justifies the photograph.

A jumble of trees

The little woodland next to the Sea Scouts is left to do its own thing with little of no evidence of any management. That may not be a bad thing when it produces wild views like this from Douglas Footpath.

New fence for Douglas Footpath

The fence separating Douglas Footpath from the German School used to be a simple, and much less sturdy, wire-mesh fence but now it is both brash and robust.

It is good to see that the path has weathered-in too and my comments about its brashness from 2009 no longer hold true.

Back to school

I like taking Douglas Footpath as it winds behind the German School as it is one of the area's more interesting buildings and it is still evolving. The barriers and containers are the latest signs of further change.

High waters

High waters are a feature of the riverside in Ham and they add considerably to the character of the place. Sometimes the high tides block my route along the towpath towards Richmond but I do not mind in the least as the joy of watching the water flow into and out of the flood plain far outweighs the minor inconvenience of having to wait, take an alternative route or just get wet.

One of the place that the water finds it easiest to escape the river and head into Ham Lands is next to Douglas Footpath and a substantial bridge has been built there because of it. Standing on that bridge gives an excellent view of the invading water.

A season of rain, wind and floods

Ham is accustomed to floods but this Winter's rain, wind and high tides have conspired to make conditions much worse that usual. The ground is consistently wet and and many trees have fallen in the battle.

The towpath is under the water somewhere. Luckily the tide had been going our for a few minutes by the time that I got to this stretch, by Douglas Footpath, so I was able to make progress by clambering through the trees and bushes on the slightly raised edge of the path.

 

The water had been around for a while and had filled up the ditches on the far side of the towpath. The newish bridge sits above it all allowing me to disappear along Douglas Footpath.

Colourful windows at the German School

The German School, sitting quietly on Petersham Avenue, is one of the most interesting buildings locally thanks to its unashamedly modern look. It has become even more interesting with the addition of some colourful windows at the back. Luckily Douglas Footpath ventures behind the school allowing the windows to be seen be inquisitive walkers.