Royal Forest , Windsor Castle , Welsh Harp and the National Stadium

After 40 people started from Wickham Bishops on Saturday and 7 on Sunday, it was me and Sandra today. It was trying to drizzle as she dropped me off at the bus stop on the Epping-Loughton road and headed off to park the car at Loughton. I appreciated the time and space on my own as I walked through the forest towards Royal Epping Golf Club marvelling at so many shades of green and thinking about Tim. He would love the sign outside one driveway – ‘the very latest in luxury chalet accommodation for cats' .

Many of the paths were not shown on the map but I found my way making good speed and a kind jogger showed me a shortcut onto the golf course. I met him as he looped back round the course and we chatted for a few minutes. He was amazed at the walk and seemed genuinely moved by its purpose, wishing me God's speed as we parted company.

At the end of the Ridgeway, I met up with Sandra and we cut down to the North Circular and stopped at the Lea Valley Tesco for a late breakfast after 9 miles. From there, we walked along a series of quiet side roads past the North Middlesex Hospital and through Bounds Green, skirting round Muswell Hill Golf Course. It was getting warm and we climbed up towards Muswell Hill but turned off towards East Finchley and stopped for lunch in a nice little pub, the Windsor Castle .

After lunch, we found Brookside and walked along the path surrounded by trees and greenery with the sound of the North Circular never more than 50 yards away. Across Hendon Park and then crossing Hendon Way , the M1 and Edgeware Road in quick succession and the new Wembley arch began to loom large. The final part of the walk took us alongside the waters of Welsh Harp, another haven of peace in the midst of the city. It was a warm afternoon with plenty of sunshine and we made our way along the roads of Wembley towards the new tube station, the Empire Way and Wembley.

As Julian kindly said in his message with his online donation – ‘ each step is a step forward for someone else's future'. The warm up is over and the serious business begins on Saturday.