The England Coast Path, 27/3500 Dartford to Gravesend.

I was slightly unsure about whether doing the next section on this weekend was a good idea. I was still in recovery from being incredibly poorly over the last couple of weeks but I was feeling much better and my body was craving the simplicity of a long walk.

The night before, there had been a long conversation with my friend around bringing us living together to an end as we are both starting to move in different directions and have different needs. Walking felt right for starting to process this ending. Walking has always supported my body & heart.

It’s going to be a little while before I leave the mouth of Thames and so there was a very familiar feel to the previous section as I walked back up the other side of the River Darenth. The Estuary of the Thames is a deeply liminal place.

Where industry meets marshland.

Rubbish and poverty move alongside rich bird & plant life.

On the approach to the Dartford Crossing I had about 20mins feeling like I was being shot at. Yes, you read that right. I didn’t realise until I checked later that day that there are a selection of shooting ranges along this stretch of the walk.

It was absolutely terrifying. People were firing right alongside the path and because I didn’t know where it was coming from my body started to panic because of how close it was. I fucking hate that the human race invented guns. And more so that some people take pleasure in using them.

It wasn’t until I got to the crossing that I started to calm down.

The Dartford Bridge is huge. And I have been across it many times but this was the first time walking under it. It was quieter than I thought it would be and I was in awe of the scale. This feels like the moment where you leave London, the edge that is the M25.

There was a single Hawthorn bush in full bloom with its white blossom, reminding me that Spring is emerging.

Much of the walk was quietly stomping alongside the Thames on a grass path. Various depots like Amazon to my right. It feels like walking along an edge between the capitalist gloom and the wild of mud and tides.

There was a distinct lack of shopping trolleys, I guess it’s hard to roll them along grass. But still lots of rubbish. Grief as before was present with me.

I am not listening to anything on these walks. This time is to be present with myself and the edge of the land that holds us here. My mind was finding plenty for me to tend to. Where am I going to live in 2 months? Why am I doing this walk when my work is not stable? I need to start getting rid of stuff. How could I build a life where I can just walk? Then I pause, take in the river, listen to the bird song, so much bird song, feel the wind and bring myself back here.

Eventually I found myself walking through Northfleet. A rundown and depressing place. A lot of the signs for the path have been destroyed or turned around to face the wrong direction so I was lost for a while. This feels like a place where you find yourself lost. Again, I was on edge. Strange men staring at me and making comments.

Eventually I found the path again and me and my tired feet arrived in Gravesend at the worlds oldest iron pier. The end of this section. I made my way back to the car, hungry and heartsore. The mouth of Thames is reshaping me.

While I am not making this a sponsored walk, if you have enjoyed this writing and my images please consider sharing funds with families in Gaza.

For nearly two years, a community of us have been supporting several families through the fund stewarded by Kayt @citythrifter on instagram. This money has been and will continue to be a lifeline and hopefully part of efforts for these families to be able to rebuild their lives. So if you feel called to help, this is a great way. Even if it’s the smallest amount, it all adds up. You can also share the fundraiser from Kayt’s Instagram feed.

You can share funds via her paypal which is here https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Kaytmendies and she posts receipts to her Instagram every Sunday.